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 pleased to share the next installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment includes market leaders and subjects related to speeding up an equitable and simply shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are growing in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member business founded by three Tennesseans who wish to make sure that the innovation and advantages of renewable resource reach all neighborhoods around our nation similarly, beginning with the communities that have a history of getting left. Click on this link to find out 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 changed into a business. In the early days– even before we had actually decided on the name– we were checking 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 tidy energy is restricted.

To find out more about Clearloop, see https://clearloop.us/.
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Clearloop started as an idea that morphed into a company. In the early days– even prior to we had decided on the name– we were checking out the theory that more companies need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be spent enhancing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with business of all sizes to assist them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to clean energy by constructing new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you do not need to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help build brand name new solar projects. Even huge business that have led the way in sustainable energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they might have little control over reduction methods or where reductions may not be immediate.

How can potential partners do company with you?
Were showing that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help develop brand name brand-new solar tasks. Even huge business that have actually led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant piece of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease methods or where reductions might not be immediate.

Tell us about Clearloop?
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 expand access to clean energy by building new solar tasks in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the building of new solar capacity thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a new financing structure that permits a wider array of business to participate, while also being intentional about the communities where were investing to accomplish an equitable clean 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 unclean grids and economically distressed neighborhoods with our solar jobs
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What challenges do you face? Why?
One of the greatest difficulties for us, as a relatively brand-new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is earning credibility with market leaders who may be utilized to doing things a specific way. Clearloop is challenging a few of the traditional methods which brand-new solar developments have been financed, and bringing attention to new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the corporate procurement conversation. Im a real believer that our viewpoint from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as founders from very various backgrounds, has brought into focus why we require more creative services to help tidy up the grid. Weve been motivated by corporate partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, along with brand names like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove bought recovering their carbon footprint by assisting us develop our extremely first solar job. Weve also had the fantastic fortune of finding similar companies like ACORE who acknowledge the worth of bringing varied viewpoints to cleaning up the grid and have in fact developed a program like Accelerate to ensure we have a seat at the table
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