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 pleased to share the next installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation features market leaders and subjects related to accelerating a fair and just transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are featuring Clearloop, an Accelerate member business established by 3 Tennesseans who want to make sure that the development and benefits of renewable resource reach all neighborhoods around our country equally, beginning with the neighborhoods that have a history of getting left. Click HERE for 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 company?
Clearloop began as an idea 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 companies require 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.

For more information about Clearloop, go to https://clearloop.us/.
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Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with companies of all sizes to assist them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and broaden access to clean energy by constructing brand-new solar jobs in American communities otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the building of new solar capacity thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new funding structure that enables a wider selection of business to get involved, while also being intentional about the communities where were investing to accomplish an equitable clean energy future. We recently began on our first utility-connected solar task 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 projects
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What difficulties do you face? Why?
One of the most significant obstacles for us, as a fairly new entrant in the tidy energy and carbon markets, is earning trustworthiness with industry leaders who might be used to doing things a particular method. Clearloop is challenging some of the conventional methods in which brand-new solar advancements have actually been funded, and bringing attention to new locations and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the business procurement conversation.

How can potential partners work with you?
Were showing that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to help build brand name brand-new solar projects. Even big companies that have blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their value chain, where they may have little control over reduction strategies or where reductions might not be immediate. That is where Clearloop is available in– were a brand-new tool for companies little and huge to take tangible environment action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the places that require it the a lot of. We require more imaginative methods to help tackle the environment crisis in such a way that purchases the places where that dollar creates more financial chance and social movement for the communities where were building. Were firm followers that the ecological, health, and economic benefits of clean energy financial investments ought to reach all corners of our country and were trying to find partners who are prepared to do something about it
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Clearloop began as a concept that changed into a business. In the early days– even before we had decided on the name– we were checking out the theory that more business 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 restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business of all sizes to assist them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by developing brand-new solar projects in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were showing that you do not require to be a Fortune 500 company with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to help build brand name brand-new solar jobs. Even big business that have 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 worth chain, where they might have little control over reduction techniques or where decreases may not be immediate.