David W. Brown, Senior Principal and Co-Founder

David W. Brown, a Senior Principal and co-founder of Obsidian, brings expertise in transaction structures, creative ideas in tax and finance, and resolving or liquidating distressed companies and assets. Industries of particular focus are energy and forest products.

With Obsidian Renewables, Mr. Brown has developed many of the larger utility scale solar photovoltaic projects in Oregon. Mr. Brown is a member of the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association and is involved with the Bioenergy Deployment Consortium, the Community Renewable Energy Association, and the Northwest Independent Power Producers Coalition. Mr. Brown has been very active in renewable energy incentive and land use legislation in the state of Oregon. He was a key contributor to several pieces of legislation benefiting the Oregon solar industry including House Bill 4037 creating a short-term production-based incentive, House Bill 3492 creating a Payment In Lieu of Taxes program, and House Bill 2329 allowing county permitting of larger solar projects.

Prior to founding Obsidian Finance Group and Obsidian Renewables, Mr. Brown practiced law with Miller Nash LLP in Portland, Oregon. His practice included many different aspects of business, tax and finance.

Mr. Brown graduated with a B.S. in marketing and a J.D. from the University of Oregon.

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Ken Dragoon, Director of Hydrogen Development

Director of Hydrogen Development Ken Dragoon joined Obsidian Renewables in January 2021. Ken provides a deep background in the Northwest energy industry, especially relating to challenges of accommodating variable renewable resources on the grid. He brings a wealth of experience in power-to-fuels as founder and former executive director of the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance (RHA).

Ken has more than thirty years of experience from his years at the Bonneville Power Administration, PacifiCorp, Renewable Northwest, Northwest Power and Conservation Council, independent consulting, and the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance founded in 2018. He received a master’s degree in physics from the University of New Hampshire and, in 2020, was given the Northwest Energy Coalition’s Headwaters Award.

Laurie Hutchinson, Vice President of Renewable Energy

Laurie Hutchinson is the Vice President of Renewable Project Development at Obsidian Renewables. She works on all aspects of project development – from working with landowners to the permitting process to interconnection and EPC coordination. Laurie is the liaison in the local communities for our team. She monitors Obsidian’s existing solar plants and oversees Operation and Maintenance.

Laurie has been working in the solar industry since 2007. Prior to Obsidian she worked in solar electric design, construction management and technical sales. Laurie served on the board of the Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association (OSSIA) from 2012 through 2018.

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Kirk Moore, Senior Analyst for Renewable Development

Kirk Moore recently joined Obsidian Renewables after working for 10 years at Obsidian Finance Group, LLC.  Mr. Moore works on project development focusing primarily on real estate issues and contracting.  He also assists with financial modeling and project diligence.  While at Obsidian Finance he managed a portfolio of subprime bonds, served as Principal Agent to the United States Small Business Administration as Receiver for multiple investment funds, liquidated portfolios of real estate and helped manage complex litigation. 

Prior to joining Obsidian, Kirk practiced law with Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P.C. focusing on commercial finance, commercial litigation and labor and employment matters.  Mr. Moore received his J.D. from the University of Oregon and his B.S. in business economics from Willamette University.

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Michelle Slater, Legal and Project Management

Michelle Slater provides legal and project management services to the Obsidian companies. She has more than twenty-five years of experience that includes work on complex commercial and regulated transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and renewable energy development. She received her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College.

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Abraham Mooney, P.E., Renewable Energy Project Development Manager

Abe Mooney, P.E., joined Obsidian after nine years at Trimet Transit Agency, where he was Systems Project Manager in Capital Projects. Abe brings experience in engineering, construction, and project management. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Ecological Engineering, both from Oregon State University.

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Matt Kirsch, Renewable Energy Project Developer

Matt Kirsch is a project developer at Obsidian Renewables supporting solar and hydrogen project formation around the Pacific Northwest. Previously he spent 7 years working on chemical process automation projects for a variety of clients in the manufacturing, utility, and technology development sectors. He also served as the Vice Chair of the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance’s Washington Policy Subcommittee and is certified in energy procurement (CEP) by the Association of Energy Engineers.

Karyn Moscoe, Office Manager

Karyn Moscoe is the Office Manager at Obsidian Renewables and has worked for Obsidian Finance Group supporting all Obsidian companies since 2005. Prior to her work at Obsidian, Ms. Moscoe worked in administration and procurement within the financial, high tech, electronics, IT, medical, tax and retail industries. With her diverse background, Ms. Moscoe manages the Obsidian office including accounting, HR,  purchasing, travel arrangements, and IT matters.