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 installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation includes market leaders and subjects associated with speeding up a fair and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are flourishing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member business established by 3 Tennesseans who want to make certain that the development and benefits of renewable resource reach all communities around our nation similarly, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left. Click HERE for 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
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What inspired you to begin your company?
Clearloop began as an idea that changed into a business. In the early days– even before we had actually picked the name– we were checking out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be invested boosting the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited. For me, as one of three founders, this company was motivated by the desire to bring clarity to a large issue with an easy solution. We wanted business to take climate action in the exact same community that welcomed my household as immigrants, and kept me going when things felt dark and the course was unclear
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To find out more about Clearloop, visit https://clearloop.us/.
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Inform us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with companies of all sizes to help them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by constructing brand-new solar projects in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the construction of brand-new solar capacity thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a new funding structure that permits a broader variety of companies to get involved, while likewise being deliberate about the neighborhoods where were investing to achieve an equitable clean energy future. We just recently broke ground on our 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 unclean grids and economically distressed communities with our solar tasks
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What difficulties do you face? Why?
One of the biggest obstacles for us, as a relatively new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is making reliability with industry leaders who might be used to doing things a specific method. Clearloop is challenging some of the conventional methods in which brand-new solar advancements have been financed, and bringing attention to brand-new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the corporate procurement discussion.

How can potential partners work with you?
Were proving that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to help develop brand brand-new solar projects. Even huge business that have led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant portion of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their value chain, where they may have little control over decrease methods or where reductions might not be immediate. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a new tool for services big and small to take concrete climate action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the places that require it the a lot of. We require more creative ways to help tackle the environment crisis in a way that buys the places where that dollar creates more economic opportunity and social mobility for the neighborhoods where were developing. Were firm believers that the environmental, health, and economic benefits of tidy energy financial investments should reach all corners of our nation and were looking for partners who are all set to take action
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Clearloop started as a concept that morphed into a business. In the early days– even before we had actually chosen on the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more companies need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be spent increasing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with companies of all sizes to assist them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and broaden access to clean energy by developing new solar jobs in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were showing that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist develop brand brand-new solar jobs. Even huge business that have led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the greatest piece of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease strategies or where decreases may not be instant.