Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Kristal Hansley, Founder & CEO of WeSolar, Inc.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is enjoyed share the very first installment in our “Ask an Accelerate Member” blog site series. Each installment will include among ACOREs Accelerate member companies. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are focused on Black-owned sustainable energy business

I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to offer a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative
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WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to local community solar and to assist business homes with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I desired to ensure city residents were getting the very same amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has historically been a middle class issue due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the people I required to link with in order to make this collaboration successful
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Please show us a current business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I wanted to ensure city residents were receiving the exact same quantity of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has historically been a middle class concern due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the individuals I needed to link with in order to make this partnership effective
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Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc. and is the countrys first Black Woman CEO in the neighborhood solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, providing customers across Maryland access to cost effective solar power, regardless of house type and helping hard-working households reduce monthly expenses
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What inspired you to start your company?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. I started revealing how higher income neighborhoods and people in the residential areas were taking advantage of this and got a heap of support. To be able to provide an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative
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Inform us about your company? (objective, partners, regions you run in, main clients, etc.).
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical power should come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030
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What challenges do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing so lots of pushing difficulties, encouraging them that there is another one just as essential is very hard. I remember attempting to discuss community solar to my pals and the discussion rapidly rotating to real estate.