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

I was at a community meeting with 50 Black females 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 bills is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to regional community solar and to help industrial properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to ensure city citizens 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 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 individuals I required to connect with in order to make this collaboration successful.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is happy to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will feature industry leaders and subjects related to speeding up an equitable 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 business are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black female CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, providing customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to economical solar energy, no matter house type, and assisting hard-working households minimize month-to-month expenses.
What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. 36% of Black families experience a high energy burden, indicating they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy costs. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to local neighborhood solar and to assist industrial properties with energy performance. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electricity customers can buy shared solar from a regional project without needing to set up any devices in their homes. In turn, residents conserve hundreds on their electricity bills. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electricity need to originate from renewable resource sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already facing so many pushing obstacles, persuading them that there is another one just as crucial is really tough. I remember trying to describe community solar to my good friends and the conversation quickly rotating to real estate.
Please share with us a recent business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to ensure city residents were receiving the same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class problem since Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people I needed to connect with in order to make this partnership effective.
To read more about WeSolar, go to wesolar.energy
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