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 topics connected to speeding up a fair and just transition to a sustainable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by three Tennesseans who desire to make certain that the development and benefits of renewable resource reach all neighborhoods around our country similarly, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left. Click HERE 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 company?
Clearloop began as an idea that changed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had actually picked the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more companies need to buy cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent boosting the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited. For me, as one of three creators, this company was inspired by the desire to bring clearness to a large problem with a simple service. We desired companies to take climate action in the very same community that welcomed my family as immigrants, and kept me going when things felt dark and the path was unclear
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Inform us about Clearloop?
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 expand access to clean energy by developing brand-new solar tasks in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the construction of brand-new solar capability thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new funding structure that enables a wider variety of business to take part, while likewise being deliberate about the communities where were investing to attain an equitable clean energy future. We recently began 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 dirty grids and financially distressed neighborhoods with our solar tasks
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What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Among the biggest difficulties for us, as a relatively brand-new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is making reliability with industry leaders who may be used to doing things a certain way. Clearloop is challenging some of the standard methods in which new solar advancements have been financed, and bringing attention to brand-new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement conversation. Im a true follower that our vantage point from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as creators from extremely various backgrounds, has brought into focus why we require more imaginative services to help clean up the grid. Weve been encouraged by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, as well as brands like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove purchased recovering their carbon footprint by helping us construct our extremely first solar task. Weve likewise had the great fortune of discovering similar organizations like ACORE who acknowledge the value of bringing diverse point of views to tidying up the grid and have actually constructed a program like Accelerate to guarantee we have a seat at the table
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Clearloop began as an idea that morphed into a company. In the early days– even before we had actually chosen on the name– we were evaluating 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 assist them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and broaden access to tidy energy by developing new solar projects in American neighborhoods 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 agreement to help construct brand name brand-new solar jobs. Even huge companies that have led the way in renewable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the greatest portion of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they might have little control over decrease strategies or where decreases might not be immediate.

To find out more about Clearloop, visit https://clearloop.us/.
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How can potential partners work with you?
Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help construct brand name brand-new solar tasks. Even big companies that have blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they may have little control over decrease strategies or where decreases might not be instant. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a new tool for services huge and little to take concrete environment action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it the many. We need more innovative methods to help take on the climate crisis in a manner that buys the places where that dollar produces more economic opportunity and social mobility for the communities where were building. Were firm followers that the ecological, health, and financial advantages of tidy energy financial investments ought to reach all corners of our nation and were looking for partners who are all set to act
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