Stellar Energy opens Normandy Campus in West Jacksonville (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Daily Record) — The Stellar Energy Normandy Campus is open for business.
The 510,433-square-foot facility operates at the former Baker Hughes GE Oil & Gas factory at 12970 Normandy Blvd. in AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center.
Representatives from the power-system manufacturer said at a June 24 ribbon-cutting that the new West Jacksonville manufacturing facility will create 250 skilled-labor jobs by the end of 2024.
A Stellar Energy representative said 190 jobs are already created.
Peter Gibson, Stellar Energy executive chairman, called the opening of the facility a “significant milestone” for the Jacksonville-based company.
“It marks a pivotal moment in our history. In our journey,” he said. “This is a big win for everyone.”
Gibson said the Normandy Campus will allow Stellar Energy to triple its manufacturing capacity this year. He projected a “fivefold” increase in 2025.
It is Stellar Energy’s second manufacturing facility in Jacksonville.
It also owns and operates a facility at 989 Imeson Park Blvd. in North Jacksonville. Property records show Star Fabricators LLC, part of Stellar Energy, owns the almost 19.7-acre site. It is roughly 115,000 square feet.
Stellar Energy analyzes, designs, constructs, fabricates, integrates, installs, operates, maintains and services energy systems.
It says its solutions include turbine inlet air chilling, inlet air conditioning, evaporative cooling, direct contact air chilling, thermal energy storage, district cooling and central utility plants.
According to its website, “the company’s experience spans more than 20 years and stretches across the globe, with offices in the United States, Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”
As previously announced in a January release issued by JAXUSA Partnership, Gibson said Stellar Energy plans to invest more than $28 million in the project, comprising $20 million in the building and more than $8 million in equipment.
Completion of improvements will be no later than Dec. 31, 2027.
JAXUSA Partnership is the economic development division of the JAX Chamber.
“This facility is not just an investment in Stellar Energy. It’s an economic engine for Jacksonville catalyzing growth in adjacent industries,” Gibson said.
The project was months in the making.
The Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved a Recapture Enhanced Value Grant up to $1.5 million in October when the Stellar Energy expansion was code-named Project Orion. According to Resolution 2023-0715, the then-unknown company was described as an established manufacturer of mechanical equipment in Jacksonville and “operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing operation which designs, engineers and delivers modular equipment to aid power suppliers.”
Stellar Energy was revealed as the mystery manufacturer behind Project Orion on Jan. 23.
U.S. Rep. John Rutherford said June 24 he is committed to “policy that is pro-business” and “workforce development.”
“Stellar Energy had a choice. They could have gone anywhere, but they chose to stay here in Jacksonville and we thank you so much for that,” he said.