U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm Met with Baltimore-Based WeSolar Inc. Leadership
BALTIMORE (November 11, 2022) – U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm visited WeSolar, Inc. headquarters for a fireside chat-style discussion with WeSolar CEO Kristal Hansley.
Secretary Granholm expressed her excitement for not only Kristal’s leadership as the first African American woman-found solar company in the country but, also solutions moving forward to address issues that impact underserved communities. The U.S. Department of Energy has set a nationwide target of growing the community solar industry by 700% nationwide by 2025; that’s one of the reasons why this conversation was so timely.
The conversation highlighted WeSolar’s founding, In Baltimore City, being on Juneteenth 2020 and the new opportunities offered to communities that never had the option of using a solar farm and adding that directly to their bill. “Community solar is a popular vertical; the shared access opens the margin by 80%,” said WeSolar CEO Kristal Hansley.” Much work needs to be done, including calling on Federal, State Representatives, groups, and regulators to support legislation that advances the gap that community solar serves. “A great answer to equity would be community solar getting on more regulators’ radar as a choice,” said WeSolar CEO Kristal Hansley.