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 happy to share the next installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment includes market leaders and topics related to accelerating an equitable and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company established by 3 Tennesseans who wish to ensure that the development and benefits of sustainable energy reach all communities around our country similarly, starting with the neighborhoods that have a history of getting left. 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 start your company?
Clearloop started as an idea that morphed into a company. In the early days– even before we had chosen on the name– we were testing out the theory that more business require to invest in cleaning up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent enhancing the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited.

To read more about Clearloop, visit https://clearloop.us/.
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Clearloop started as a concept that changed 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 invested boosting the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is restricted. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with companies of all sizes to assist them cut (or recover) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by developing brand-new solar jobs in American communities 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 build brand brand-new solar tasks. Even huge companies that have led the way in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant portion of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease methods or where reductions may not be immediate.

How can potential partners work with you?
Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase agreement to help develop brand name new solar jobs. Even huge business that have blazed a trail in renewable energy procurement are now confronted with the truth that the most significant chunk 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 immediate. That is where Clearloop is available in– were a new tool for businesses huge and small to take tangible environment action right now and assist us decarbonize the grid in the places that require it one of the most. We require more innovative ways to help deal with the climate crisis in a manner that purchases the locations where that dollar creates more economic opportunity and social mobility for the neighborhoods where were constructing. Were firm believers that the environmental, health, and financial advantages of clean energy investments should reach all corners of our nation and were looking for partners who are prepared to do something about it
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Inform 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 expand access to tidy energy by constructing new solar projects in American neighborhoods otherwise getting left. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the building and construction of brand-new solar capability thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new funding structure that enables a broader selection of business to get involved, while likewise being deliberate about the neighborhoods where were investing to attain an equitable clean energy future. We recently began 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 tackle both dirty grids and financially distressed communities with our solar tasks
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What challenges do you deal with? Why?
One of the greatest difficulties for us, as a reasonably new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is making credibility with industry leaders who might be utilized to doing things a certain method. Clearloop is challenging some of the standard methods which brand-new solar advancements have been funded, and bringing attention to brand-new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the corporate procurement discussion. Im a real follower that our vantage point from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as founders from very various backgrounds, has actually brought into focus why we need more creative services to help tidy up the grid. Weve been motivated by corporate partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, in addition to brands like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove bought recovering their carbon footprint by assisting us build our extremely first solar job. Weve likewise had the excellent fortune of finding similar organizations like ACORE who acknowledge the worth of bringing varied perspectives to cleaning up the grid and have actually developed a program like Accelerate to guarantee we have a seat at the table
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