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 happy to share the first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will include industry leaders and subjects related to accelerating a fair and simply transition to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the very first in a series highlighting how black-owned member business are prospering in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black Woman CEO in the community solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, providing consumers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar energy, despite home type, and assisting hard-working families lower month-to-month expenditures.
What inspired you to begin your company?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. 36% of Black households experience a high energy problem, meaning they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy expenses. To be able to provide an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Tell us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local community solar and to help industrial properties with energy effectiveness. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will expand to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical energy consumers can purchase shared solar from a local task without having to install any equipment in their homes. In turn, locals save hundreds on their electrical power costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electricity need to come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing so numerous pressing difficulties, persuading them that there is another one just as important is extremely hard. I keep in mind attempting to discuss neighborhood solar to my good friends and the conversation quickly rotating to housing.
Please show us a current company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to ensure city locals were receiving the very same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually 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 connected me with the people I required to link with in order to make this partnership 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 neighborhood solar motion. To be able to use an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help industrial homes with energy performance. 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 amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue since 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.