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 includes industry leaders and topics related to accelerating an equitable and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by three Tennesseans who desire to ensure that the development and advantages of renewable resource reach all communities around our nation similarly, beginning with the communities that have a history of getting left behind. Click on this link to read more about Clearloops effect.
The following is a Q&A with Clearloop Co-Founder Laura Zapata and Constance Thompson, ACOREs Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs
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What inspired you to begin your business?
Clearloop started as an idea that morphed into a business. In the early days– even before we had decided on the name– we were testing out the theory that more companies require to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested improving the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited.

Clearloop started as a concept that changed into a company. In the early days– even prior to we had actually chosen on the name– we were checking out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electricity grid so those dollars can be invested boosting the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business of all sizes to help them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by developing new solar jobs in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 company with the capability to sign a power purchase contract to assist build brand name brand-new solar jobs. Even huge business that have actually led the way in sustainable 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 may have little control over reduction methods or where decreases may not be immediate.

For more information about Clearloop, go to https://clearloop.us/.
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How can potential partners do service with you?
Were showing that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to assist develop brand name new solar jobs. Even big companies that have blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now confronted with the truth that the greatest portion of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they might have little control over decrease methods or where reductions may not be immediate. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a new tool for organizations little and big to take tangible environment action right now and help us decarbonize the grid in the places that require it the many. We need more imaginative ways to assist tackle the environment crisis in a way that invests in the places where that dollar creates more economic opportunity and social mobility for the neighborhoods where were developing. Were firm followers that the environmental, health, and financial benefits of clean energy investments ought to reach all corners of our country and were searching for partners who are all set to do something about it
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Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with companies of all sizes to help them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by building new solar tasks in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the building of new solar capability thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a new financing structure that enables a broader selection of companies to take part, while likewise being deliberate about the neighborhoods where were investing to attain an equitable tidy energy future. We recently began on our first utility-connected solar job in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be focusing on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we take on both filthy grids and financially distressed neighborhoods with our solar tasks
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What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
One of the greatest difficulties for us, as a reasonably new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is making credibility with industry leaders who might be utilized to doing things a specific method. Clearloop is challenging some of the traditional methods which brand-new solar developments have been funded, and bringing attention to new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement discussion. Im a real follower that our viewpoint from the middle of the nation, and our lived experiences as founders from really various backgrounds, has brought into focus why we require more imaginative solutions to help clean up the grid. Weve been encouraged by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, as well as brand names like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove bought recovering their carbon footprint by assisting us build our very first solar task. Weve also had the great fortune of finding like-minded companies like ACORE who acknowledge the value of bringing varied perspectives to cleaning up the grid and have in fact constructed a program like Accelerate to ensure we have a seat at the table
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