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Eric Hansen
City Councilor

Eric Hansen Eric Hansen serves in Councilor Position No. 6 through December 2026.

Eric moved to Ashland in 1992 from Portland to attend Southern Oregon University with a backpack, bike and pair of skies. He immediately fell in love with the Ashland’s natural wonders and tight community. He worked his way through University in our local tourism economy and building trades. After graduating in 1996 with a journalism degree he freelanced in different publications from Medford’s Tri-County Journal of Business, to Paddler magazine, and briefly at the Ashland Daily tidings. In 1999 he landed at Home Power magazine, which, as it turned out, was published near Ashland. There he learned about Renewable Energy and worked as an editor, writer, and graphic artist. The position allowed him to get to know a lot of pioneers in the solar industry. It also gained him hands-on training with the solar equipment and systems of both on-grid and off-grid living.
 
In 2005 Eric left Home Power magazine to enter the solar electrician’s apprenticeship program. He attended electrical classes at Rogue Community College and Solar Energy International and worked for both Energy Outfitters and Electron Connection. Four years later he had his license, was lead installer, and was training his own apprentice. 
 
Eric founded True South Solar in 2010 with friends out of their home offices and a storage unit in Ashland. Now True South is a team of twenty-five serving the Rogue Valley from its own solar powered office on Clear Creek Dr. in Ashland. True South Solar designs and installs turnkey grid-tied, battery backup, and off-grid solar-electric systems for residential, commercial, not for profit, and municipal clients. 
 
In addition City Councilor he sits on the Ashland Chamber Board, volunteers as a Mountain Bike coach, and races bikes regionally. He was Treasurer of the Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association for eight years, and sat on the NW Apprenticeship board helping in workforce development of solar-electricians for six. 
 
Eric lives in Ashland with his two school age boys in a solar powered home. They love playing in the mountains on bikes and skies.
 
On City Council Eric is focused on:
• Economic Development and Livability
• Address Climate Change through City business and policy
• Proactively address Housing and sustainable development 

Regional Boards & Committees: 
Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) 
Chamber of Commerce / Travel Ashland 

Community Organizations: 
Mount Ashland 
Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA)

 

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