Kristal Hansley on Her Journey as CEO of WeSolar: A Dylan Green Interview

In an insightful Dylan Green interview, Kristal Hansley, founder and CEO of WeSolar, shares her inspiring journey as the first Black woman in the U.S. to own a community solar company. The conversation highlights Kristal’s passion for bringing affordable, clean energy to underserved communities and her commitment to bridging the energy equity gap in the solar industry.

Kristal talks candidly about the challenges she faced in breaking into a traditionally white, male-dominated industry and how her work in policy helped shape her mission to create more inclusive renewable energy solutions. Her leadership at WeSolar is driven by a vision to democratize access to solar power, ensuring that communities of color and low-income families can participate in and benefit from the green energy revolution.

In the interview, Kristal emphasizes the importance of community solar, which allows residents to subscribe to shared solar farms and receive credits on their energy bills, making clean energy accessible to people who cannot afford the upfront costs of installing solar panels. This model helps reduce energy costs and empowers communities to participate in the fight against climate change.

Kristal also reflects on her entrepreneurial experiences and the lessons she’s learned while building WeSolar from the ground up. She discusses the significance of Black entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector and how her work creates environmental and economic opportunities for marginalized communities.

To learn more about Kristal Hansley’s journey and her vision for a more equitable solar industry, read the full interview on Dylan Green.