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

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 series. Each installment will feature industry leaders and topics connected to speeding up a fair and just transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the very first in a series highlighting how black-owned member companies are growing in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations very first Black Woman CEO in the neighborhood solar industry. Under her management, WeSolar is growing rapidly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar power, no matter house type, and helping hard-working families decrease monthly costs.
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 motion. 36% of Black families experience a high energy concern, indicating they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy expenses. To be able to use a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods economical access to regional community solar and to help industrial properties with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical power should come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you face? Why?
To a community that is already dealing with so lots of pressing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one simply as crucial is really difficult. I keep in mind attempting to describe neighborhood solar to my good friends and the discussion rapidly pivoting to housing.
Please show us a recent business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I wanted to guarantee city locals were getting the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue due to the fact that Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, however 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 successful.
For more information about WeSolar go to wesolar.energy
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. To be able to use an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local community solar and to assist business homes with energy effectiveness. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to guarantee city citizens were receiving the same quantity of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has historically been a middle-class problem since Black communities have had to live in survival mode, however 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 partnership successful.