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 site series.
Each installment includes industry leaders and subjects associated with speeding up an equitable and just shift to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are thriving in the renewable energy sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by 3 Tennesseans who desire to make sure that the development and advantages of renewable resource reach all neighborhoods around our nation equally, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left. Click on this link to get 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 start your company?
Clearloop started as an idea that morphed into a business. In the early days– even before we had actually decided on the name– we were checking out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested increasing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is restricted.

Clearloop began as a concept that changed into a business. In the early days– even before we had actually decided on the name– we were testing out the theory that more business require 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. 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 broaden access to tidy energy by developing brand-new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist develop brand brand-new solar projects. Even huge business that have led the way in renewable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they may have little control over decrease strategies or where decreases might not be instant.

Inform us about Clearloop?
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 broaden access to clean energy by developing brand-new solar projects in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the building of brand-new solar capability thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new funding structure that permits a broader array of business to take part, while also being intentional about the neighborhoods where were investing to achieve an equitable tidy energy future. We just recently broke ground on our 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 economically distressed communities with our solar tasks
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What obstacles do you face? Why?
One of the most significant obstacles for us, as a relatively brand-new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is making credibility with industry leaders who might be utilized to doing things a specific way. Clearloop is challenging a few of the standard methods in which new solar developments have actually been funded, and accentuating brand-new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement discussion. Im a real believer that our perspective from the middle of the nation, and our lived experiences as founders from very different backgrounds, has brought into focus why we require more creative services to help tidy up the grid. Weve been encouraged by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, in addition to brand names like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove purchased reclaiming their carbon footprint by assisting us build our extremely first solar task. Weve likewise had the terrific fortune of finding similar companies like ACORE who acknowledge the value of bringing diverse perspectives to cleaning up the grid and have in fact developed a program like Accelerate to ensure we have a seat at the table
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How can possible partners do company with you?
Were proving that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to assist develop brand new solar jobs. Even big business that have actually blazed a trail in renewable energy procurement are now confronted with the reality that the greatest chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they may have little control over decrease techniques or where decreases may not be instant. That is where Clearloop is available in– were a new tool for companies huge and small to take concrete climate action right now and help us decarbonize the grid in the places that require it one of the most. We require more imaginative ways to assist tackle the environment crisis in a manner that buys the locations where that dollar produces more economic chance and social mobility for the communities where were developing. Were firm believers that the environmental, health, and economic advantages of clean energy financial investments ought to reach all corners of our nation and were trying to find partners who are ready to do something about it
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For more information about Clearloop, visit https://clearloop.us/.
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