Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Laura Zapata, Co-Founder of Clearloop

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 24, 2021

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the next installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment features industry leaders and subjects associated with speeding up an equitable and simply transition to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member company established by 3 Tennesseans who wish to make certain that the innovation and benefits of renewable resource reach all communities around our country equally, beginning with the neighborhoods that have a history of getting left. Click on this link to read more about Clearloops impact.
The following is a Q&A with Clearloop Co-Founder Laura Zapata and Constance Thompson, ACOREs Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs
.
What inspired you to start your business?
Clearloop began as an idea that morphed into a company. In the early days– even before we had actually chosen on the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested enhancing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited.

How can potential partners work with you?
Were proving that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 company with the capability to sign a power purchase contract to assist build brand name new solar projects. Even huge companies that have actually blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they may have little control over reduction techniques or where decreases may not be instant. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a brand-new tool for organizations small and big to take tangible climate action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it one of the most. We require more imaginative methods to help deal with the climate crisis in a manner that buys the places where that dollar creates more financial chance and social movement for the neighborhoods where were building. Were firm believers that the environmental, health, and economic advantages of tidy energy financial investments should reach all corners of our nation and were searching for partners who are all set to act
.

Clearloop started as an idea that changed into a company. In the early days– even before we had chosen on the name– we were testing out the theory that more companies need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested increasing the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business of all sizes to help them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and broaden access to clean energy by developing brand-new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase agreement to help build brand name brand-new solar jobs. Even huge business that have actually led the way in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant portion of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease techniques or where reductions may not be instant.

To find out more about Clearloop, check out https://clearloop.us/.
###.

Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with companies of all sizes to assist them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by constructing brand-new solar projects in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the building of new solar capacity thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new financing structure that allows a wider variety of companies to get involved, while likewise being deliberate about the neighborhoods where were investing to attain a fair clean energy future. We just recently began on our first utility-connected solar project in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be concentrating on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we tackle both filthy grids and economically distressed communities with our solar projects
.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
Among the most significant difficulties for us, as a fairly new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is earning credibility with market leaders who might be utilized to doing things a specific way. Clearloop is challenging a few of the traditional methods in which new solar developments have been financed, and accentuating new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the business procurement discussion. Im a true follower that our vantage point from the middle of the nation, and our lived experiences as founders from extremely different backgrounds, has actually brought into focus why we need more creative options to assist clean up the grid. Weve been encouraged by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, along with brands like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove invested in recovering their carbon footprint by helping us build our really first solar task. Weve also had the excellent fortune of finding similar companies like ACORE who acknowledge the worth of bringing diverse viewpoints to tidying up the grid and have in fact constructed a program like Accelerate to guarantee we have a seat at the table
.