Spiritus Appoints Former Tesla Engineering Leader Dorian West and Brightmark Project Lead Kip Hensley to Support Commercial Scale-Up

Combined track record includes 30 energy infrastructure projects, $400M+ in deployed capital, and 15 years scaling Tesla hardware from Roadster to Semi

SANTA FE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spiritus, a climate technology company developing carbon-negative power generation and industrial-scale direct air capture systems, today announced two leadership appointments that deepen the company’s execution bench as it delivers firm, carbon-negative power infrastructure for AI data centers and other power-intensive customers. Kip Hensley has joined as Head of Project Development, and Dorian West has joined Spiritus’s Board of Directors.

Demand for firm AI data center power is rising at the same time customers face growing pressure to manage emissions with more rigor. Spiritus is building Orchard Power by pairing high-efficiency natural gas generation with point-source carbon capture and direct air capture driven by waste heat, delivering fast, affordable, firm power while neutralizing residual and upstream emissions.

Hensley joins Spiritus after eight years at Brightmark, where he developed, constructed, and operated renewable natural gas plants across the United States. He led engineering teams responsible for project development and execution across 30 projects representing more than $400 million in deployed capital. His work focused on turning waste streams into renewable fuel while reducing methane emissions. Brightmark’s RNG business included a joint venture with Chevron, giving Hensley experience in the kind of large energy partnerships required to move complex infrastructure from concept to operation.

Earlier in his career, Hensley worked as a licensed Professional Engineer designing mechanical systems for data centers and worked with utilities to deliver energy-efficiency programs for commercial and industrial customers.

As Head of Project Development, Hensley will lead Spiritus’s project portfolio, guiding the company’s first commercial-scale efforts in Wyoming while advancing future projects from feasibility through construction. His work will span permitting, EPC engagement, commissioning, and financing investment decisions for projects up to $500 million in capital expenditure.

“Spiritus is working on an infrastructure problem the market can no longer defer,” said Hensley. "The demand for firm, clean data center power is the largest new buildout opportunity in energy in a generation. Spiritus has the technology and the partnerships to deliver it. That is why I joined."

West joins Spiritus’s Board after 15 years at Tesla, where he was an early employee and held engineering leadership roles spanning the original Roadster battery pack, the Model 3, and the Tesla Semi. He is named on multiple Tesla patents in battery thermal management and safety systems. West holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

After Tesla, West co-founded Electric Hydrogen, where he served as Executive Vice President of Engineering. He currently advises multiple climate tech startups and serves as a director on two other boards. In total, West brings more than 25 years of experience developing complex electromechanical systems from prototype through volume production.

At Spiritus, West will support the company’s next phase of engineering scale-up as it moves from technical validation into larger, repeatable systems built for commercial deployment. His experience spans the stage where hard technology becomes equipment that can be manufactured, deployed, and expanded at scale.

“Tesla proved electric vehicles could be economically built at scale. Electric Hydrogen is proving you can produce affordable clean hydrogen at industrial volume,” said West. “Spiritus is solving a comparable problem: provide firm power with full carbon management, built fast enough to meet the demand that’s here today. The technical foundation is strong, and the engineering team is rapidly developing a cost-effective, full-scale system for real-world deployment.”

“AI data centers need firm power on the timelines this market now demands, and Spiritus is building the system to deliver it,” said Charles Cadieu, CEO and co-founder of Spiritus. “Kip has built complex energy projects from development through operation. Dorian has led major engineering programs from electric vehicles to climate tech hardware. Together, they bring the leadership required to move Orchard Power from technical advantage to commercial build-out.”

These appointments mark the next phase of Spiritus’ growth as Spiritus brings Orchard Power into commercial deployments.

About Spiritus

Spiritus is a climate technology company developing carbon-negative power generation and industrial-scale direct air capture systems. Its Orchard Power platform pairs high-efficiency natural gas generation with point-source carbon capture and Carbon Orchard direct air capture, driven by waste heat, to deliver fast, affordable, firm power for AI data centers and other power-intensive customers while neutralizing residual and upstream emissions of every megawatt hour. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Aramco Ventures, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, and TDK Ventures, Spiritus is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information, visit spiritus.com.