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

I was at a community meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to provide an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods inexpensive access to local neighborhood solar and to help business properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to ensure city homeowners were getting the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem due to the fact that Black communities have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the individuals I required to link with in order to make this partnership successful.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will feature market leaders and topics connected to accelerating a fair and simply transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations first Black female CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering customers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to inexpensive solar energy, no matter house type, and helping hard-working families lower regular monthly costs.
What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, suggesting they invest over 6% of their income on home energy bills. To be able to provide a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Inform us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities economical access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist business homes with energy effectiveness. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will expand to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical power customers can acquire shared solar from a local project without needing to install any equipment in their houses. In turn, locals save hundreds on their electrical energy expenses. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is already dealing with so numerous pushing obstacles, persuading them that there is another one just as essential is really tough. I remember trying to explain neighborhood solar to my pals and the discussion quickly rotating to housing.
Please share with us a current company success story.
A really individual success story for me is cultivating a collaboration with Maryland United Baptist Missionary Convention, Inc. I matured in a Baptist church in Brooklyn where my cousin was the pastor, and my mom was an organizer– neighborhood was stitched into my very being. When I initially relocated to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to make sure city residents were getting the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. It was the church that took me in, and the church that then supported my vision– bringing whatever complete circle. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with individuals I required to get in touch with in order to make this partnership successful.
To get more information about WeSolar, go to wesolar.energy
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