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 first installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will include market leaders and topics associated with speeding up a fair and simply shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black woman CEO in the neighborhood solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering customers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to inexpensive solar energy, despite house type, and assisting hard-working households lower month-to-month expenses.
What inspired you to begin your business?
The plain fact that the bulk of households who were getting renewable resource incentives were greater income. I keep in mind discovering this and thinking there needed to be a way to address this gap. I saw there was a problem. I had my own ideas on how to resolve it, and I desired to have company over my own decisions. I was at a community meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not purchased the neighborhood solar motion. It felt like a lightbulb had turned on for me once I began to discuss how vital and urgent it was for us to be a part of the solar movement. I started demonstrating how higher-income communities and people in the residential areas were making the most of eco-friendly tax rewards and had actually received a lots of support. The fact is, energy usage effects Black family budgets greatly. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy concern, suggesting they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy bills. Thats an enormous percentage. To be able to offer a product that will conserve our neighborhood approximately 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Inform us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget-friendly access to local community solar and to assist business homes with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electricity need to come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is currently dealing with so numerous pushing difficulties, convincing them that there is another one simply as important is very challenging. I remember trying to discuss community solar to my friends and the discussion rapidly rotating to real estate. The truth of the matter is, institutional racism and oppression are larger than we understand, and it drowns our community. Where Black people are not being invested in, we are being asked to prioritize constantly for our survival.
Please show us a recent company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to ensure city homeowners were receiving the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class concern because 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 required to link with in order to make this collaboration effective.
To read more about WeSolar, go to wesolar.energy
###

I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. To be able to provide a product that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities budget friendly access to local community solar and to help commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to guarantee city homeowners were getting the same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern due to the fact that 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 people I required to link with in order to make this collaboration successful.