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

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 24, 2021

How can potential partners work with you?
Were proving that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to help construct brand name new solar tasks. Even huge companies that have blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the truth that the biggest piece of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they may have little control over decrease strategies or where reductions may not be immediate. That is where Clearloop is available in– were a new tool for organizations huge and little to take tangible environment action today and assist us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it one of the most. We require more imaginative methods to help tackle the climate crisis in a manner that invests in the locations where that dollar produces more economic opportunity and social movement for the neighborhoods where were building. Were firm followers that the environmental, health, and financial advantages of tidy energy financial investments need to reach all corners of our nation and were looking for partners who are ready to take action
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Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with business of all sizes to assist them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and expand access to clean energy by building brand-new solar jobs in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the construction of new solar capacity thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new financing structure that enables a broader variety of business to participate, while likewise being deliberate about the communities where were investing to accomplish an equitable clean energy future. We just recently began on our first utility-connected solar task in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be focusing on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we tackle both unclean grids and financially distressed neighborhoods with our solar projects
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What challenges do you face? Why?
Among the most significant difficulties for us, as a reasonably brand-new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is earning trustworthiness with industry leaders who might be used to doing things a particular method. Clearloop is challenging some of the conventional methods which new solar developments have been financed, and accentuating brand-new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement discussion. Im a true believer that our viewpoint from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as creators from extremely different backgrounds, has actually brought into focus why we need more creative options to assist clean up the grid. Weve been motivated by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, in addition to brand names like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove invested in reclaiming their carbon footprint by helping us build our really first solar task. Weve also had the great fortune of finding similar organizations like ACORE who recognize the worth of bringing diverse point of views to tidying up the grid and have actually developed a program like Accelerate to ensure we have a seat at the table
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Clearloop began as a concept that morphed into a business. In the early days– even before we had actually chosen 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 invested increasing the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited. Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with companies of all sizes to help them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and broaden access to clean energy by building new solar tasks in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to help develop brand name new solar projects. Even huge companies that have actually led the way in sustainable energy procurement are now faced with the truth 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 might not be instant.

For more information about Clearloop, see https://clearloop.us/.
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is happy to share the next installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment features industry leaders and subjects associated with accelerating a fair and just transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member business founded by 3 Tennesseans who desire to make certain that the development and advantages of renewable resource reach all neighborhoods around our nation similarly, starting with the neighborhoods that have a history of getting left. Click HERE to find out 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
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What inspired you to start your business?
Clearloop began as a concept that changed into a company. In the early days– even before we had actually decided on the name– we were testing out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent increasing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited.