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 installation includes market leaders and subjects associated with accelerating a fair and just shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are prospering in the renewable energy sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member company established by 3 Tennesseans who want to make certain that the innovation and benefits of renewable energy reach all communities around our country equally, starting with the neighborhoods that have a history of getting left. 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 company?
Clearloop started as an idea that morphed into a company. In the early days– even prior to we had picked the name– we were testing out the theory that more business need to invest in tidying up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested improving the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited. For me, as one of three creators, this business was inspired by the desire to bring clarity to a large issue with a basic option. We wanted companies to take environment action in the very same community that welcomed my household as immigrants, and kept me going when things felt dark and the course was uncertain
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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, tidy up the grid, and broaden access to clean energy by building brand-new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the building of brand-new solar capacity thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a new funding structure that enables a broader array of companies to participate, while likewise being intentional about the neighborhoods where were investing to achieve a fair tidy energy future. We just recently broke ground on our very first utility-connected solar task in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be focusing on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we deal with both unclean grids and financially 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 fairly brand-new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is earning trustworthiness with market leaders who might be utilized to doing things a specific way. Clearloop is challenging a few of the traditional ways in which brand-new solar developments have been financed, and bringing attention to new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement discussion. Im a true follower that our viewpoint from the middle of the nation, and our lived experiences as creators from extremely different backgrounds, has brought into focus why we need more creative solutions to assist clean up the grid. Weve been motivated by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, as well as brands like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove bought recovering their carbon footprint by helping us construct our extremely first solar project. Weve likewise had the excellent fortune of discovering like-minded organizations like ACORE who recognize the worth of bringing diverse perspectives to tidying 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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Clearloop started as an idea that morphed 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 companies need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be spent boosting the economies in Middle America where access to tidy 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 clean energy by developing new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist build brand brand-new solar projects. Even huge business that have actually led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they might have little control over reduction techniques or where reductions may not be instant.

How can possible partners do organization with you?
Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help build brand new solar jobs. Even big business that have blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the truth that the biggest chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease strategies or where reductions may not be immediate. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a new tool for services huge and little to take concrete environment action right now and assist us decarbonize the grid in the places that need it the a lot of. We need more innovative methods to assist deal with the environment crisis in such a way that buys the places where that dollar produces more economic chance and social movement for the neighborhoods where were constructing. Were firm followers that the environmental, health, and financial advantages of clean energy financial investments must reach all corners of our country and were searching for partners who are prepared to take action
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To learn more about Clearloop, go to https://clearloop.us/.
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