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 installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation features industry leaders and topics connected to speeding up an equitable and just transition to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are growing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member business established by 3 Tennesseans who want to ensure that the innovation and advantages of renewable resource reach all communities around our nation equally, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left behind. 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 business?
Clearloop began as an idea that changed into a business. In the early days– even before we had 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 improving the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is restricted.
Inform us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with companies of all sizes to assist them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to clean energy by developing brand-new solar jobs in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the building and construction of brand-new solar capability thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a new financing structure that permits a broader variety of companies to participate, while likewise being intentional about the communities where were investing to achieve a fair tidy energy future. We recently broke ground on our first utility-connected solar project in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be concentrating on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we deal with both filthy grids and economically distressed neighborhoods with our solar tasks
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What challenges do you face? Why?
One of the biggest difficulties for us, as a reasonably new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is making reliability with market leaders who might be used to doing things a specific way. Clearloop is challenging some of the standard ways in which new solar advancements have actually been funded, and bringing attention to new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement discussion.
How can potential partners work with you?
Were proving that you do not need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist build brand new solar projects. Even huge companies that have led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the greatest portion of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over reduction methods or where decreases may not be immediate.
To read more about Clearloop, go to https://clearloop.us/.
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Clearloop started as an idea that morphed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had decided on the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electricity grid so those dollars can be spent increasing the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up 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 jobs in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were showing that you do not need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to help construct 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 biggest chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they may have little control over decrease techniques or where decreases might not be immediate.