Person of the Week - Ray Davis

Ray Davis, President/Partner, OGW Energy Resources

View fullsize

View fullsize

Recently, the Tippecanoe Gazette reached out to Ray Davis to find out more about him, his family, OGW Energy Resources, and his role as president/partner. He responded to our questions and here is an edited summary of what he had to say. 

Readers, if you enjoy these “Person of the Week” features, please let us know—and send us suggestions! Know someone we should chat with, or someone who deserves recognition? Reach out to editor@tippgazette.com and we’ll add them to the list!

Ray, can you give us a summary of OGW Energy Resources, tell us what you do as president/partner of OGW, describe the major projects you and OGW have been involved in, and your most significant accomplishments:

The OGW Energy Resources (OGW) Difference

At our heart, we are a design-build residential, commercial, and municipal solar installation company and industry consultant. Every renewable and sustainable energy solution we propose is tailored to our clients’ needs and their return on investment. Our goal is simple: we want to cut utility costs, increase cash flow, give a competitive edge, and help organizations hedge against energy inflation. 

What I Do

As president/partner, I’m involved in industry consulting, project design, sales, manufacturing selection, and company processes.  I’m passionate about the good works we do and proud of our team at OGW.  

Major Projects

Ohio Caverns: An OGW design-build project, the Ohio Caverns solar energy system was the first of its kind in the USA to be built on a cavern/cave mound.

“OGW Energy Resources was simply fabulous! OGW installed a solar PV system at our place of business (Ohio Caverns). From engineering to installation to post consultation our expectations and communication were exceeded. We not only recommend, but highly recommend, OGW for high-quality Solar Modules, Quality Racking, Efficient Inverters with free monitoring and top high-quality installers.” Eric Evans, Owner, Ohio Caverns  

Sidney Recycling Center/NCO Waste District: An OGW design-build project, at the time of commissioning, the solar energy system at the recycling facility in Sidney was considered by Mitsubishi Electric to be one of the most innovative systems in the world. Mitsubishi presented a commemorative award to memorialize the achievement. 

“OGW is an outstanding renewable energy company. Our experience using OGW was fantastic. Ray Davis and his team were professional, prompt, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable. The project was completed on time and on budget. The system is performing flawlessly and is saving real money for the Shelby County Commissioners. Working with OGW made tackling this project very satisfying. They went out of their way to make sure we understood all aspects of the project from start to finish. 

They even spent the time to make themselves available for an open house for the recycling center to celebrate the new solar power system and to provide details on how the systems works to our guests. We highly recommend OGW to anyone interested in developing renewable energy project such as solar or wind. They also are very well versed in energy efficient lighting systems and retrofits.” Jim Skora-Director GT Environmental 

The Ohio State University Agrivoltaics Test Site

OGW designed and built the first Agrivoltaics test site for The Ohio State University. 

The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Agrivoltaics: Integrating forage production in utility-scale solar farms 

To reduce land use impacts of utility-scale solar installations, an Ohio State University Team (Extension, Ag Engineering, Animal Sciences) has recently completed a 2-year research study demonstrating forage (hay) production in between the rows of a photovoltaic (PV) solar project.  This pilot project has led to additional collaborations and funding from U.S. Department of Energy Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) program to expand the research into a 120-acre research zone within a 1,000-acre utility-scale solar farm. 

During the four-year study, the team will investigate four priority areas including: best management practices for establishing forages, integrating complimentary grazing strategies, maximizing soil health using remediation techniques, and utilizing precision agriculture technologies and equipment to minimize error and risk.  This will be accomplished by collecting forage quality samples, tracking dry matter yield data, collecting soil compaction metrics, conducting precision agriculture equipment efficiency trials, and observing animal behavior, growth, and health.  Research findings will be analyzed and summarized to identify best management practices and results will be disseminated to government representatives, stakeholders, solar developers, forage and livestock producers, and equipment manufacturers.

Significant Accomplishments 

With the backdrop of Freedom Forever, the #1 rank solar installer in 2025, filing for bankruptcy on April 15, 2026, where they have over 850 solar jobs in Ohio over the last four years; other solar companies like ADT Solar, Power Home Solar / Pink Energy, Solar Is Freedom, Sunworks, Titan Solar, SunPower, Pure Light Power, Vision, and more all closing their doors; with literally over a million solar customers without their original installer; and with consideration of over 1,200 solar related complaints at the Ohio Attorney General, OGW Energy Resources has never sold and installed a product from a company that’s gone out of business.  We are the only company in the Midwest, as old as we are, that can factually state this. 

We are an engineering-first design-build operation, with careful product selection based on sound technology and human rights assurances.  In our 18th year, we are a healthy company that does right by everyone we work with.  This has culminated into perhaps our greatest accomplishment, all 5-star Google Reviews …. even from people that we told, “solar isn’t right for you”.

Ray, can you describe your career path, which culminated in becoming a resident/partner of OGW?

Education: 

Degree In Aerospace / Aviation (OSU)

Private Pilot, Instrument, High Performance

Securities: S7, S66, LHA, CSA

Work Experience

Aviation/Aerospace Business Background

Director of Engineering

Worldwide Aftermarket & Distribution Sales Mgr.

New Business Development Mgr.

Independent Financial Advisor 

Current Business Involvement

President and a Principal Partner at OGW Energy Resources 

Partner of OGW Roofing

Can you describe your road to OGW?

My oldest son was born in 2004. That same summer, The Christian Post published an article titled “Top Toxic 20: States with the Most Air Pollution from Power Plants.” Ohio ranked #1 as the worst polluter in our Republic.

Sulfur dioxide pollution isn’t abstract. It’s directly linked to airway inflammation and pulmonary dysfunction, facts backed by study after study. Very early in my son’s life, he was already struggling with asthma. By 2006, I began studying energy systems, emissions, and what could be done at the local level to reduce exposure. By 2007, I knew I would be starting a company built not on sales, but on engineering, ethics, and real solutions.

In 2008, three friends came together, bringing experience in electrical distribution, aerospace, aviation, construction, and business, to turn that vision into reality. That was the beginning of OGW Energy Resources, a renewable energy company founded not because solar was trendy, but because energy independence and clean air mattered.

What do you like about your job?

The Education / Solution Solving 

My wife thinks I’m a bit weird here, but I genuinely love helping people truly understand how energy works for them. Teaching how PJM, utilities, and the grid interact behind the scenes and showing, in real numbers, how a properly engineered solar energy system can strengthen a company’s net income or increase a family’s disposable income is all fun for me (I can just hear her eyes roll). 

Pollution Reduction Per kWh 

As the parent of an asthmatic son, I’m especially proud that our work directly supports cleaner air with meaningful reductions in sulfur dioxide.  These are improvements that matter deeply for people living with asthma and COPD.

What is the most difficult part of your job?

There are two issues we deal with regularly: (1) Removing the politicization of solar. Simply put, there nothing more American than building your own powerplant with the right products. (2) Overcoming the misinformation from the bad actors in this industry. 

Can you share a little about your personal life?

I was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Bucks County, PA. I attended The Ohio State University. 

My brilliant wife, Dr. Angela Davis, owns Vandalia Optometry. My son Aaron will graduate from ONU as a Mechanical Engineer, with a concentration in Aerospace. Aaron is the captain of the tennis team and is engaged to an amazing woman who is a nurse at OSU.

My other son, Cameron Davis, is a Bio-Chem Pre-Med track student at the University of Findlay. He is on the tennis team and aspires to go to medical school. 

We are all faithful Christians.

Finally, Ray what does OGW stand for?

Our company is Ohio Green Wind, LLC., dba OGW Energy Resources. We have much about truth, ethics, trust, and honesty in a section of our employee agreements that’s entitled, What OGW Stands For. Here’s an excerpt: To be the most creative, imaginative, innovative, and trusted developer in our industry. 

“All lasting business is built on friendship.” Alfred A. Montapert

Thank you, Ray, for sharing details about yourself, your career, and your family. Readers, if you enjoy these “Person of the Week” features, please let us know—and send us suggestions! Know someone we should chat with, or someone who deserves recognition? Reach out to editor@tippgazette.com and we’ll add them to the list!