Jon Christopher (Chris) Hocker was born and raised in Los Angeles, but left California in 1977 and moved to Redding with his family in 1993.  Professionally, Chris has been involved in the electric power business for nearly 25 years.  He is currently Vice President-Planning for Neptune Power Ventures, LLC of Fairfield, primarily responsible for regulatory permitting and compliance, and communications.  Neptune is the developer and owner of a 65-mile underground and undersea electric transmission cable connecting New Jersey and Long Island.  The Neptune project, completed in 2007 ahead of schedule and within budget, is unusual in that it is an entirely privately-financed piece of major energy infrastructure, totaling more than $600 million.  The Neptune team is currently planning a similar major underground/underwater transmission link from New Jersey to Manhattan, and is also developing a solar thermal generating facility in Spain.

 

Before joining Neptune in 2004, Chris for 13 years was Senior VP-Corporate Affairs, for a Stamford-based renewable energy company that owned, developed, and operated small hydro and windpower facilities.  In 2000-01, Chris served as President of the National Hydropower Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing utilities and other companies involved in hydropower generation.

 

Chris holds a B.A. degree in English from Stanford University (1973).  He is married to Deb Haws, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Georgetown, and has two sons: Cory, who is teaching elementary-aged children in Easton, and Will, a junior at Roanoke College.  In addition, an unofficially adopted daughter, Judilyn Evangelista, is a Registered Respiratory Therapist in Richmond, Virginia.