Chile Corn Chowder

Name: Chile Corn Chowder
Ingredients: ¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, divided; 10 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 1 1/2 cups); 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups); 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided; 5 cups fresh sweet corn kernels (from 6 ears); 3 5-oz. cans hot diced green chiles (such as Hatch), undrained; 4 cups unsalted vegetable stock; 1 cup half-and-half; 2 ounces cotija cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup); 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh chives