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

I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to offer a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods affordable access to regional community solar and to assist business properties with energy effectiveness. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to ensure city citizens were getting the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem because Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people I required to connect with in order to make this partnership effective.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the very first installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will feature industry leaders and topics related to speeding up a fair and just shift to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are prospering in the sustainable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to affordable solar power, despite home type, and assisting hard-working families decrease regular monthly costs.
What inspired you to begin your company?
I was at a community conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. 36% of Black families experience a high energy burden, implying they spend over 6% of their earnings on house energy costs. To be able to provide an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Inform us about your company?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities budget friendly access to regional community solar and to help business properties with energy effectiveness. WeSolar released in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical energy consumers can buy shared solar from a local project without needing to install any devices in their houses. In turn, homeowners save hundreds on their electricity costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electrical energy should come from renewable resource sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already facing so lots of pressing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one just as important is really tough. I keep in mind trying to describe community solar to my friends and the discussion rapidly rotating to housing.
Please share with us a recent company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to guarantee city locals were receiving the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue since Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the people I needed to link with in order to make this partnership effective.
To read more about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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