LOXLEY — Officials, business leaders and community members gathered Thursday, July 9, to celebrate the construction groundbreaking of a new geothermal energy manufacturing facility that company officials say will expand domestic production for the growing renewable energy sector.

Terravanta Power Systems, a newly established subsidiary of Kaishan Compressor USA, plans to invest $74.5 million in the project. The 200,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly facility is expected to create 63 jobs and will produce screw and turbine expander systems used in geothermal power generation.

Geothermal energy uses heat stored beneath the Earth's surface to produce electricity. Unlike solar and wind power, geothermal systems can generate electricity continuously because they do not depend on weather conditions, making them a reliable source of around-the-clock energy.

The facility builds on Kaishan Compressor USA's existing manufacturing and service operations in Loxley and is supported by the Kaishan Group, an industrial manufacturer with operations in manufacturing, power generation and geothermal development.

Rather than entering the geothermal market as a startup, Terravanta is drawing on years of experience from its parent companies, according to Chief Executive Officer Keith Schumacher.

"Many companies entering the energy sector start with an idea," Schumacher said. "We are starting with many years of experience in engineering, operations, exploration and manufacturing. That gives us a different perspective and a different level of capability from day one."

Schumacher said the company will manufacture modular wellhead systems along with advanced screw and turbine expanders that are used in geothermal power plants across the United States. He said domestic manufacturing, shorter lead times and partnerships focused on geothermal exploration technology are intended to support future geothermal development.

The project also reflects a broader trend of industrial growth in Loxley, where companies have continued to invest along the city's expanding industrial corridor. Terravanta's decision to locate its new manufacturing operation in Loxley follows Kaishan Compressor USA's operations in the city since 2017, with company officials citing that established manufacturing base and local experience as key factors in expanding there rather than building elsewhere.

Baldwin Alliance President and CEO Lee Lawson said the project is another example of Baldwin County attracting advanced manufacturing investment.

"Terravanta Power Systems is an exciting addition to Baldwin County's growing industrial sector and a testament to the success the Kaishan Group has already found here in Loxley," Lawson said.

Lawson said the project will create high-wage jobs while strengthening the county's manufacturing base.

As construction begins, the project adds another chapter to Loxley's industrial growth, building on Kaishan's nearly decade-long presence in the community while expanding the company's role in the emerging U.S. geothermal energy market. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.