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

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 24, 2021

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

How can possible partners work with you?
Were proving that you do not need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to help build brand new solar tasks. Even huge companies that have actually led the method in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the reality 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 may not be immediate. That is where Clearloop is available in– were a new tool for services big and little to take concrete environment action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it the most. We need more creative ways to help deal with the environment crisis in a manner that buys the places where that dollar produces more financial chance and social movement for the communities where were developing. Were firm followers that the environmental, health, and economic benefits of clean energy financial investments must reach all corners of our nation and were searching for partners who are all set to take action
.

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the next installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation features market leaders and topics associated with accelerating a fair and simply transition to a renewable energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by three Tennesseans who wish to make certain that the innovation and benefits of sustainable energy reach all neighborhoods around our country similarly, beginning with the communities that have a history of getting left. Click HERE to get more information 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 started as an idea that changed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had actually chosen on the name– we were checking out the theory that more companies require to invest in cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent increasing the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited.

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, clean up the grid, and broaden access to tidy energy by constructing brand-new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the construction of brand-new solar capacity thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a new financing structure that allows a wider array of companies to take part, while likewise being intentional about the communities where were investing to attain an equitable tidy energy future. We just recently began on our very first utility-connected solar task in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be concentrating on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we take on both dirty grids and financially distressed neighborhoods with our solar jobs
.
What difficulties do you deal with? Why?
Among the biggest difficulties for us, as a reasonably new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is making reliability with industry leaders who might be utilized to doing things a specific way. Clearloop is challenging some of the conventional ways in which brand-new solar developments have been financed, and bringing attention to brand-new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the corporate procurement conversation. Im a real follower that our perspective from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as founders from really different backgrounds, has brought into focus why we need more innovative solutions to assist clean up the grid. Weve been encouraged by corporate partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, in addition to brand names like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove bought recovering their carbon footprint by assisting us develop our really first solar task. Weve also had the excellent fortune of finding similar organizations like ACORE who recognize the worth of bringing diverse perspectives to cleaning up the grid and have really constructed a program like Accelerate to ensure we have a seat at the table
.

Clearloop began as an idea that changed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had actually decided on the name– we were testing out the theory that more business require to invest in cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent improving the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited. 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 developing new solar projects in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase contract to help develop brand new solar projects. Even big companies that have led the way in sustainable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant piece of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they might have little control over reduction methods or where reductions might not be instant.