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 installment features industry leaders and subjects related to speeding up an equitable and just shift to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are growing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by 3 Tennesseans who want to make certain that the innovation and advantages of renewable resource reach all neighborhoods around our nation similarly, beginning with the communities that have a history of getting left behind. Click on this link to read 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 begin your business?
Clearloop began as a concept that morphed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had actually decided on the name– we were checking out the theory that more companies require to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested improving the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited.

To get more information about Clearloop, see https://clearloop.us/.
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Clearloop started as a concept that changed into a company. In the early days– even before we had actually decided on the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more companies need to invest in cleaning up the electricity grid so those dollars can be spent boosting 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, tidy up the grid, and broaden access to tidy energy by building brand-new solar jobs in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase agreement to assist develop brand brand-new solar tasks. Even huge business that have led the way in renewable 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 may have little control over reduction techniques or where decreases may not be immediate.

Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business 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 communities otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the building and construction of brand-new solar capability thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new funding structure that allows a wider variety of companies to participate, while likewise being deliberate 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 deal with both unclean grids and economically distressed neighborhoods with our solar jobs
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What obstacles do you face? Why?
One of the biggest challenges for us, as a fairly new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is earning reliability with industry leaders who may be utilized to doing things a certain method. Clearloop is challenging some of the traditional methods in which new solar developments have been funded, and bringing attention to brand-new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement conversation.

How can prospective partners work with you?
Were showing that you do not need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase agreement to help develop brand brand-new solar jobs. Even huge business that have blazed a trail in renewable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the greatest chunk of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease techniques or where decreases might not be immediate. That is where Clearloop comes in– were a new tool for organizations huge and little to take concrete climate action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it one of the most. We require more creative methods to assist deal with the environment crisis in a manner that purchases the locations where that dollar creates more economic opportunity and social movement for the communities where were building. Were firm believers that the ecological, health, and financial advantages of clean energy investments must reach all corners of our country and were trying to find partners who are prepared to act
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