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 includes market leaders and topics related to speeding up an equitable and just shift to a sustainable energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are prospering in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member business founded by three Tennesseans who desire to make sure that the innovation and advantages of renewable resource reach all communities around our country equally, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left behind. Click on this link to read 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 company. In the early days– even prior to we had chosen 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 tidy energy is restricted.

To discover more about Clearloop, check out https://clearloop.us/.
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How can possible partners do business with you?
Were showing that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase agreement to assist construct brand name brand-new solar projects. Even big business that have actually led the way in eco-friendly 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 may have little control over reduction techniques or where decreases might not be instant. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a brand-new tool for companies big and small to take concrete environment action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the places that require it the many. We require more creative ways to help tackle the climate crisis in such a way that purchases the locations where that dollar produces more financial opportunity and social mobility for the neighborhoods where were building. Were firm followers that the ecological, health, and financial advantages of clean energy financial investments ought to reach all corners of our country and were trying to find partners who are ready to do something about it
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Clearloop began as a concept that changed into a company. In the early days– even before we had decided 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 improving the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business of all sizes to help them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by constructing new solar projects in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were showing that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 company with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help build brand new solar projects. Even big companies that have actually led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant piece of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease methods or where reductions might not be instant.

Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with business of all sizes to help them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by building brand-new solar projects in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the building and construction of brand-new solar capability thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a new funding structure that permits a larger variety of companies to take part, while likewise being intentional about the communities where were investing to achieve a fair clean energy future. We just recently broke ground 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 dirty grids and economically distressed communities with our solar projects
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What challenges do you face? Why?
One of the greatest challenges for us, as a relatively new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is earning reliability with market leaders who may be used to doing things a particular way. Clearloop is challenging some of the traditional ways in which brand-new solar advancements have been funded, and bringing attention to brand-new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the business procurement discussion.