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 site series.
Each installation features industry leaders and topics associated with speeding up an equitable and just transition to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by three Tennesseans who wish to make sure that the development and advantages of renewable energy reach all communities around our country equally, beginning with the communities that have a history of getting left. Click HERE to get more information 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 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 business need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested boosting the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is restricted.

To read more about Clearloop, go to https://clearloop.us/.
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How can prospective partners work with you?
Were proving that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help construct brand brand-new solar tasks. Even big companies that have blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now confronted with the truth that the biggest chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they may have little control over decrease strategies or where decreases may not be immediate. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a new tool for services small and big to take tangible environment action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the locations that need it the many. We need more innovative methods to help tackle the environment crisis in a manner that purchases the places where that dollar produces more financial chance and social mobility for the neighborhoods where were constructing. Were firm believers that the ecological, health, and economic advantages of clean energy financial investments should reach all corners of our country and were trying to find partners who are all set to act
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Clearloop started as a concept that changed into a company. In the early days– even prior to we had actually decided on the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more business need to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested boosting the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with companies of all sizes to help them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and broaden access to tidy energy by building new solar tasks in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left behind. Were showing that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist develop brand name new solar projects. Even huge business that have led the way in renewable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the greatest chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over reduction techniques or where decreases may not be instant.

Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business of all sizes to assist them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and broaden access to tidy energy by constructing new solar tasks in American communities 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 new funding structure that allows a larger array of business to participate, while likewise being intentional about the communities where were investing to accomplish an equitable tidy energy future. We just recently began on our very first utility-connected solar project in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be focusing on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we tackle both unclean grids and economically distressed communities with our solar projects
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What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
One of the most significant obstacles for us, as a fairly new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is making 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 advancements have actually been funded, and bringing attention to new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions decreases into the corporate procurement discussion.