About

Solarize Rogue is a nonprofit organization that is expanding access to solar energy to communities across Oregon.  We got our start in community solar through a successful pilot project in Talent, Oregon.  Now we are building on that success through additional community solar projects that enable homeowners, renters, businesses and other nonprofits to go solar without putting solar panels on their roofs.  All projects are developed by local volunteers and owned by people in our communities.  At least 10 percent of the clean energy generated by each project benefits low-income families.

We believe that by working together we can improve the affordability of solar and offer more Oregonians the opportunity to experience the benefits of clean energy.

Click here to learn more about Community Solar.

Ray Sanchez-Pescador, PhD, President, retired from the Biotechnology industry in 2010.  In 2016 he became the team leader for the development of the Talent Clean Energy Action Plan (CEAP) working with a group of volunteers.  The City of Talent incorporated the elements of the CEAP to their 20-year Comprehensive plan in November 2019.  Ray started Solarize Rogue in 2017 to assist Talent and the Rogue Valley transition to clean, renewable energy by helping organizations, businesses and residents figure out financially viable alternatives that allow them to access solar energy.

Joseph Wismann, Secretary, is a retired US Army Colonel who also has over 20 years’ experience in manufacturing operations and senior management at both Fortune 500 companies and startups including Raytheon, L3 Communications, Brammo, and as VP of Operations at Zero Electric Motorcycles. He believes very strongly in sustainability and the development of renewable energy. Joe is active in the community and works with several groups to improve the quality of life for our residents, including Talent Maker City and others.

Dr. Frederic “Ted” Gibbs, Treasurer, has been a Solarize Rogue board member since 2018 and has a long interest in sustainable development. He is a retired Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, and an entrepreneurial developer of medical devices as co-founder of Diacor, Inc., Salt Lake City. He moved to Ashland in 1999 and has served in various board and executive capacities at Camelot Theatre for 17 years.