Bios

With twenty years of business development experience in the energy and transportation sectors, Mr. Kopf has a proven track record of leading early-stage technologies and new businesses from concept to commercialization. Kopf’s expertise lies in developing public-private partnerships to advance new concepts in emerging markets. Well-versed in government relations, Kopf is skilled at building collaborative relationships with state and federal officials. Kopf also has extensive experience in sales and marketing, including program and proposal development.

Mr. Kopf has also been active in helping to shape State and Federal legislation to accelerate the commercialization of new energy technologies, including advanced wind turbine blades and ocean energy devices. Currently, Kopf represents a leading ocean energy company in the development of one of the first commercial projects in North America. As the lead on the project, he has played a pivotal role in the early stage introduction of ocean energy to the renewable energy industry.

Mr. Klure has spent the majority of his career delivering new energy technologies, policies, and projects into various markets throughout the Northwest United States. Klure served as a senior advisor with the State of Oregon for over ten years at the Department of Energy, leading the development of innovative energy policies, climate change initiatives, renewable energy projects, and technology transfer. Klure’s expertise includes wind, biomass, solar, ocean, alternative fuels, and other emerging energy technologies.

Since 2005, Mr. Klure has focused on advancing the ocean energy industry in Oregon with an emphasis on stakeholder outreach and consensus building, working directly with industry, academia, and government. He successfully established the region’s first public-private entity to develop ocean energy in Oregon, serving as Director for its first year of operation. Mr. Klure has a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the energy marketplace and a proven track record in driving projects from concept to completion.

With over 15 years of experience in the utility industry, Ms. Hampton has a detailed understanding of energy policy and operations. At PacificCorp and Bonneville Power Administration, Hampton led organizations responsible for regulatory and environmental compliance, working directly with federal, state, local and tribal agencies. In these roles, Hampton coordinated policy development and implementation with numerous state governor’s offices, tribal governments, and federal agencies.

Since 2006, Hampton has applied her expertise in facilitating complex public policy issues to the emerging ocean energy industry in Oregon. As a facilitator, Hampton leads federal and state agencies, environmental organizations, and existing ocean users to collaboratively develop settlement agreements regarding project development and operations. Additionally, Hampton is involved in cultivating energy policies and practices that support the emerging renewable energy industry. In 2008, she authored an assessment report on behalf of the Oregon Consensus program to identify statewide policy and planning issues relating to wave energy development.

Hofford has extensive experience in marketing, communications, and public relations. Within the renewable energy sector, Ms. Hofford has applied her communications skills to synthesizing complex sets of information, coordinating team evaluations of state and federal energy policies, and assessing regulatory processes. Hofford directs complex stakeholder relations, including the development of outreach and informational materials.

Most recently, Hofford has focused on assessing and developing innovative approaches to the permitting and licensing requirements for ocean renewable energy projects. Ms. Hofford has contributed to efforts to streamline the regulatory processes for the ocean energy industry that balances business needs and environmental protection.

Dr. McMurray has over thirty years experience working in the arena of ecological risk assessment in marine and coastal environments. This experience has fostered a unique skill set with which to address the environmental and regulatory challenges of renewable ocean energy development. Chief among these skills are project management, scientific integration and synthesis, and the thoughtful and deliberate use of science to inform policy decisions, especially as applied to the evolving ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning paradigms.

McMurray’s experience with the federal regulatory apparatus includes work with the Minerals Management Service under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with hydropower licensing under the Federal Power Act, and related experience with NEPA and ESA. His expertise on state regulation comes from direct experience in applying the federal Clean Water and Coastal Zone Management Acts’ delegated authorities to hydropower and hydrokinetic development, as well as Oregon’s own suite of environmental and proprietary laws. Most recently, McMurray was a key architect of the environmental study design for the nation’s first commercial wave energy license under FERC.