Electrify Ashland Now

Our Electrify Ashland Now action team launched in 2022 with a goal of helping Ashland community members electrify their homes to dramatically reduce our community’s climate footprint.

Meet our team

Our Electrify Ashland Now! Action Team volunteers are dedicated to providing the best advice and service to our Ashland neighbors.

Home weatherization and electrification are the most powerful levers we have to reduce energy usage and pollution FAST. We are here to help you on your electrification journey — every step of the way.

Ben Scott

Building Science Certified, Rewiring America Coach

Ben Scott has 25 years of experience in construction and energy efficiency, the last 15 as a building science professional based in Ashland. He has worked for non-profits and with utilities, communities, and local government, helping people utilize residential energy efficiency programs like Home Performance with Energy Star & Energy Trust of Oregon.

Ben is actively involved in local community efforts to mitigate climate change and advocates for smart, sensible ways to work together on critical environmental issues. He provides independent energy services, performance testing and field verification for Earth Advantage & EPS new homes certifications. He has been a licensed contractor and is certified by the Building Performance Institute.

John Spillman

Building Science Certified

John has worked as an energy modeler, instructor, verifier, and sustainability consultant with Earth Advantage for 15 years. He conducts computer simulations of energy consumption for multistory affordable housing projects participating in Earth Advantage certification program.

John developed and taught courses on the subjects of building science, energy efficiency, sustainable building practices to Builders, Architects/Designers, Home Inspectors, Energy Auditors and Building Code officials, and Real Estate Professionals. John is a USGBC LEED for Homes Green Rater and Quality Assurance Designee.

Candace Turtle

Rewiring America Coach

As a former journalist, Candace has always been interested in figuring out how things work. She relishes the chance to work with neighbors to create their own personal plans for electrification.

Her journey to transform her historic home to 100% electric took about three years and was completed this year when she replaced a 20-year-old heating and cooling system with a Mitsubishi heat pump system. She has also replaced a gas cooktop with an induction, and invested in improving her weatherization with DIY and handyman projects.

Now, she is researching electric vehicles as she prepares to replace her 2009 hybrid Toyota Camry.

Doug Piper

Technical Swiss Army Knife

Doug enjoyed a 25-year career as a software developer, and then entrepreneur in San Francisco. He took early retirement in 1997, spending his time backpacking and pursuing academic interests in plant physiology and human genetics.

In 2007 Doug and his wife Marcia bought a summer home in fabulous Ashland where they made friends, gardened, entertained, and enjoyed the theater. Eventually, they undertook a major remodel of their main house back in San Francisco at which point Doug developed an interest in building science. This led to the complete electrification of his Ashland home removing all gas appliances and the gas meter. Doug joined the Electrify Ashland Now! team in 2023 and has often served as the “answer man” on questions about federal heat pump subsidy programs and more.

Mike Wright

Team Facilitator

In 2020, after Mike and a group of friends participated in a year-long book study focused on the climate crisis, he began to identify both how he contributes to the problem as well as be part of the solution. This led Mike to electrify his home in Ashland as well as install rooftop solar panels to contribute clean renewable energy to the electrical grid.

Mike served as a former financial executive at consumer products businesses before transitioning to a second career in public education in a non-teaching capacity.

Ray Mallette

Rewiring America Coach

Ray moved to Ashland in 2014 after 37 years as an engineer with IBM. Since retiring, he has pursued learning about the causes and solutions of climate change. This led him to act as assistant teacher on a climate change course with Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN). In addition, he sat on the Ashland Climate Policy Commission for three years with a goal to reduce citizens’ greenhouse gas emissions.

While in Vermont, Ray acted as the general contractor when he and his wife built a house. They learned about building design and envelope along with heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. In Ashland, Ray recently installed a hot water heat pump and a Mitsubishi heat pump in his home — and looks forward to assisting others in their electrification journey alongside Electrify Ashland Now.

Rick Barth

Co-Founder, Treasurer

Rick is a 20+ year Ashland resident. Prior to moving to Ashland with his wife and young daughters he spent 20+ years in Silicon Valley working in research, development, and leadership positions. While living in Ashland, Rick has served in leadership and advisory capacities with multiple local nonprofit and government organizations. He has served in a variety of advisory roles for the City of Ashland including as chair of the Climate Policy Commission and member of the  Climate and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (CEPAC).

Ready to take the next step?