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 features market leaders and topics associated with speeding up an equitable and simply transition to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company founded by three Tennesseans who desire to make certain that the innovation and advantages of renewable resource reach all communities around our nation similarly, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left behind. Click HERE 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 business?
Clearloop began as an idea that morphed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had chosen on the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more companies require to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be spent increasing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited.

Tell 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, clean up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by developing brand-new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the construction of brand-new solar capacity thats determined in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new funding structure that permits a larger range of companies to participate, while also being deliberate about the neighborhoods where were investing to achieve a fair tidy energy future. We recently broke ground on our very first utility-connected solar job in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be concentrating on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we take on both filthy grids and economically distressed neighborhoods with our solar jobs
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What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
Among the biggest obstacles for us, as a relatively brand-new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is earning credibility with industry leaders who might be used to doing things a certain way. Clearloop is challenging a few of the conventional methods in which brand-new solar advancements have actually been funded, and bringing attention to brand-new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the corporate procurement conversation. Im a true follower that our vantage point from the middle of the nation, and our lived experiences as creators from very various backgrounds, has actually brought into focus why we require more innovative options to help tidy up the grid. Weve been motivated by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, as well as brand names like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove bought reclaiming their carbon footprint by helping us develop our extremely first solar task. Weve also had the fantastic fortune of finding like-minded organizations like ACORE who acknowledge the worth of bringing varied point of views to tidying up the grid and have in fact built a program like Accelerate to guarantee we have a seat at the table
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For more information about Clearloop, see https://clearloop.us/.
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How can possible partners work with you?
Were showing that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help develop brand brand-new solar tasks. Even big companies that have actually blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now confronted with the reality that the most significant piece of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease strategies or where reductions might not be immediate. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a brand-new tool for businesses big and little to take tangible environment action right now and help us decarbonize the grid in the places that need it the most. We need more imaginative ways to assist deal with the climate crisis in such a way that purchases the places where that dollar creates more economic opportunity and social movement for the neighborhoods where were constructing. Were firm believers that the environmental, health, and economic advantages of tidy energy investments should reach all corners of our nation and were trying to find partners who are prepared to take action
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Clearloop began as a concept that morphed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had actually chosen on the name– we were checking out the theory that more companies require to invest in cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent improving the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with business of all sizes to assist them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and broaden access to clean energy by building new solar projects in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 company with the capability to sign a power purchase agreement to assist construct brand name brand-new solar jobs. Even huge business that have led the way in sustainable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the greatest portion of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they may have little control over reduction methods or where decreases may not be immediate.