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 industry leaders and topics associated with accelerating an equitable and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are thriving in the renewable energy sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company established by 3 Tennesseans who wish to ensure that the innovation and benefits of sustainable energy reach all communities around our nation equally, beginning with the neighborhoods that have a history of getting left. Click HERE to find out 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 changed into a company. In the early days– even prior to we had selected the name– we were testing out the theory that more companies require to buy cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested boosting the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited. For me, as one of 3 founders, this company was influenced by the desire to bring clarity to a large issue with an easy option. We wanted companies to take environment action in the exact same community that invited my family as immigrants, and kept me going when things felt dark and the path was unclear
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Inform 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 clean energy by developing new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon value on the building and construction of new solar capability thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a new financing structure that allows a larger selection of companies to get involved, while likewise being intentional about the neighborhoods where were investing to attain an equitable clean energy future. We recently broke ground on our 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 financially distressed neighborhoods with our solar jobs
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What challenges do you deal with? Why?
One of the biggest obstacles for us, as a reasonably brand-new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is making trustworthiness with industry leaders who might be utilized to doing things a certain method. Clearloop is challenging a few of the standard methods which brand-new solar developments have been funded, and accentuating new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the business procurement conversation. Im a true follower that our perspective from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as founders from really different backgrounds, has brought into focus why we require more imaginative services to assist tidy up the grid. Weve been encouraged by business partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, as well as brands like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove invested in recovering their carbon footprint by helping us construct our extremely first solar project. Weve likewise had the excellent fortune of finding like-minded organizations like ACORE who recognize the value of bringing diverse point of views to tidying up the grid and have actually built a program like Accelerate to guarantee we have a seat at the table
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How can possible partners do business with you?
Were proving that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase agreement to help construct brand name brand-new solar projects. Even huge business that have actually blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the reality that the most significant piece of their carbon footprint remains in Scope 3, their worth chain, where they may have little control over decrease methods or where decreases may not be immediate. That is where Clearloop can be found in– were a brand-new tool for organizations big and little to take tangible environment action right now and assist us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it the many. We need more imaginative ways to help take on the environment crisis in a manner that invests in the places where that dollar produces more financial opportunity and social mobility for the neighborhoods where were building. Were firm believers that the environmental, health, and economic advantages of clean energy investments ought to reach all corners of our country and were looking for partners who are ready to take action
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To find out 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 actually decided on the name– we were testing out the theory that more companies require to invest in cleaning up the electrical energy grid so those dollars can be invested enhancing the economies in Middle America where access to clean energy is limited. 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 tidy energy by developing new solar jobs in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont need to be a Fortune 500 business with the ability to sign a power purchase contract to assist build brand name new solar tasks. Even big business that have actually led the method in eco-friendly energy procurement are now faced with the reality that the greatest chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over reduction methods or where decreases may not be instant.