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

Please share with us a recent company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released and I wanted to guarantee city homeowners were getting the same quantity of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has historically been a middle class concern due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have 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
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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 business. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are concentrated on Black-owned renewable resource business

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Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc. and is the nations first Black Woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, supplying customers across Maryland access to inexpensive solar power, no matter house type and helping hard-working households decrease monthly costs
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What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a community conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. I began showing how greater income neighborhoods and people in the suburban areas were taking benefit of this and got a heap of assistance. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative
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Inform us about your business? (mission, partners, regions you operate in, main customers, etc.).
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to local community solar and to help commercial residential or commercial properties with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electricity should come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030
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What challenges do you face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is currently facing so many pressing challenges, convincing them that there is another one just as important is really difficult. I remember trying to discuss community solar to my buddies and the discussion quickly pivoting to real estate. The reality of the matter is, institutional bigotry and oppression is larger than we know and it drowns our neighborhood. Where Black individuals are not being invested in, we are being asked to prioritize continuously for our survival
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I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative
.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to local community solar and to assist business homes with energy performance. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched and I wanted to ensure city residents were receiving the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically been a middle class issue since Black communities have had to live in survival mode, however 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 collaboration successful
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