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 introduced and I wanted to make sure city citizens were receiving the exact same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle class problem because Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the individuals I needed to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. To be able to use an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative
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WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods inexpensive access to local community solar and to assist commercial properties with energy performance. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released and I wanted to ensure city homeowners were getting the very same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle class concern because Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the individuals I required to link with in order to make this collaboration effective
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By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is thrilled to share the very first installation in our “Ask an Accelerate Member” blog series. Each installment will feature one of ACOREs Accelerate member business. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are focused on Black-owned eco-friendly energy 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 market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, supplying customers across Maryland access to inexpensive solar energy, despite house type and helping hard-working families minimize regular monthly expenses
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What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. I started revealing how greater earnings neighborhoods and individuals in the residential areas were taking benefit of this and received a lot of assistance. To be able to offer a product that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative
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Inform us about your business? (mission, partners, regions you run in, main clients, etc.).
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities budget-friendly access to regional community solar and to help business 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 dealing with so lots of pushing obstacles, encouraging them that there is another one just as important is really tough. I keep in mind trying to explain neighborhood solar to my pals and the discussion rapidly rotating to real estate. The reality of the matter is, institutional racism and injustice is bigger than we understand and it drowns our neighborhood. Where Black individuals are not being purchased, we are being asked to focus on constantly for our survival
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