US-based Spiritus has appointed two senior industry figures to support the scale-up of its carbon-negative power and direct air capture (DAC) platform, as demand for low-emissions energy solutions accelerates, particularly from data center operators.
The company confirmed that Kip Hensley has joined as Head of Project Development, while Dorian West, a former engineering leader at Tesla, has been appointed to its board of directors.
Spiritus is developing its “Orchard Power” concept, which combines natural gas generation with carbon capture and DAC systems powered by waste heat. The approach is designed to provide continuous, dispatchable electricity while addressing both direct and upstream emissions – an increasingly important requirement for energy-intensive sectors such as artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Scaling infrastructure for next-generation power demand
Hensley brings experience from Brightmark, where he worked on renewable natural gas (RNG) projects across the United States. Over his career, he has contributed to the development and execution of dozens of energy infrastructure projects, overseeing significant capital deployment and project delivery.
In his new role, he will lead Spiritus’s project pipeline, including early commercial deployments in Wyoming, covering development, permitting, engineering, and financing.
West, meanwhile, adds deep engineering and manufacturing expertise. During his tenure at Tesla, he played a role in the development of multiple vehicle platforms, from early battery systems to large-scale production programs. He later co-founded Electric Hydrogen, focusing on industrial-scale hydrogen solutions.
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At Spiritus, West is expected to support the transition from technical validation to scalable, repeatable system design, which is an essential step in commercializing complex climate technologies.
The appointments come as power demand from AI data centers continues to grow rapidly, placing pressure on operators to secure reliable energy while meeting stricter emissions targets. Spiritus is positioning its integrated approach as a potential solution to this dual challenge, combining firm power generation with embedded carbon management.
The company stated that the new leadership team will play a key role in advancing Orchard Power from early-stage deployment toward broader commercial rollout.
Read: State Of New Mexico Awards Spiritus With $500k To Expand Job Openings And Local Impact
