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 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 cost effective access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist commercial residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to guarantee city homeowners were receiving the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Renewable 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 people I required to connect with in order to make this partnership effective.

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 associated with speeding up a fair and just transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are flourishing in the renewable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the community solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, providing consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to inexpensive solar power, despite house type, and helping hard-working households decrease monthly expenses.
What inspired you to begin your company?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy concern, meaning they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy bills. To be able to use an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget-friendly access to local neighborhood solar and to assist industrial homes with energy effectiveness. WeSolar released in Baltimore and will expand to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical power consumers can buy shared solar from a regional task without needing to install any equipment in their houses. In turn, residents conserve hundreds on their electrical energy expenses. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical power must originate from renewable resource sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing so numerous pressing obstacles, encouraging them that there is another one just as important is really hard. I remember attempting to explain community solar to my pals and the conversation rapidly rotating to housing.
Please show us a recent business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to make sure city citizens were receiving the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class concern because 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 connect with in order to make this partnership successful.
To get more information about WeSolar, see wesolar.energy
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