Today, Devin Hampton, an advocate for clean, affordable energy, and former Obama White House appointee, officially joins the Tacoma Public Utility Board, attending his first meeting as its newest member.
A Tacoma native and University of Washington graduate, Hampton brings extensive experience in the public and private utility sectors. He currently serves as the CEO of UtilityAPI and co-founded Empowering Diverse Climate Talent (EDICT), a coalition of over 70 companies that has created hundreds of career opportunities for people from diverse and non-traditional backgrounds.
Previously, Hampton spent eight years in the Obama Administration, holding multiple positions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including Senior Advisor for Emerging Markets. He later became Chief of Staff at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, where he led investments in energy, smart cities, and infrastructure projects.
“It is an honor to be selected to serve my Tacoma community as a Public Utility Board member,” said Hampton. “Growing up here instilled in me a passion for clean energy. This appointment is a full-circle opportunity to bring my public and private sector experience to the board. I look forward to working on policies that will benefit our community for generations to come.”
Hampton also serves on the boards of The Clean Energy Leadership Institute and Clean Energy for America and is a member of the Trilateral Commission.
New Board member Hampton will be serving as interim while Board member Carlos Watson is on leave. The Tacoma Public Utility Board is a five-member governing body overseeing Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Rail, serving more than 200,000 customers in the Tacoma-Pierce County area. Other board members include Chair John O’Loughlin, Vice Chair William Bridges, Secretary Elly Claus-McGahan, and Member Anita Gallagher.
Board members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Tacoma’s City Council. Members serve a five-year term without pay. The Board meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Members of the public can attend meetings virtually and should check TPU’s website and social media for times and Zoom information. Meetings are also broadcast live and livestreamed by TV Tacoma. Written comments submitted to the Public Utility Board at utilityboard@cityoftacoma.org will be provided to the Board before the meeting if the comments are received by 2:00 p.m.
For more about the Public Utility Board, visit MyTPU.org/Board.
Media Contact:
Jessica Wilson
253-753-3119
jwilson2@cityoftacoma.org