Operated by Score Energy Inc., a division of the Score Group, the new facility specializes in reconditioning gas turbine engines, many used by electric companies to generate energy during peak periods.

During those times when demand for electricity spikes, nuclear and coal-burning electrical plants rely on gas-powered turbines to generate the needed power.

Now, turbines from across the United States will be shipped to Sanford for scheduled overhauling, repair and routine maintenance. In fact, many already have been. In his remarks during the grand opening, Ritchie said three turbines had arrived in Sanford for service before Score Energy even opened for business.

Once engines have been reconditioned, they generate the same amount of energy using a fraction of the fuel required before. The benefits are not only financial, but environmental as well — a point that’s certainly not lost on the ecologically-oriented company.

“These turbines burn 25 gallons of fuel a minute and can give 25,000 houses all of the electricity they need ad infinitum,” the chairman said. “If someone with our competence doesn’t keep these turbines fixed, instead of burning 25 gallons of fuel a minute, they’ll end up burning 50 gallons. It’s a big deal.”

Andy McClare, president of Score Energy, expects the Sanford facility to employ about 40 people when it’s fully developed, probably within the next five or six years.

Two are currently working locally, as the company scrambles to find “action-oriented” trainees to begin mastering the technical knowledge and skills required to overhaul the massive, 25,000-horsepower engines.

McClare said his company provides extensive training, including apprenticeships based in Europe, and pays above-average salaries.

Score Energy, the gas turbine division of Score Group, has more than 170 employees in five countries. Its new Sanford facility is the Score Group’s second venture in the United States. The parent company also operates Score Valve Services Inc. in Houston.

Score Group maintains its headquarters in Peterhead, Scotland, where gas turbine engines reconditioned in Sanford can be tested and certified.

The parent company operates other facilities in Australia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, England, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Timor, Trinidad, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

With facilities around the globe, Score Energy could have gone anywhere to open the site now operating in Sanford. In fact, McClare said he flew across the United States looking at potential sites — in California, Miami, New York, Detroit and other locales — and is thrilled by where he finally landed.

“When I came to Sanford and North Carolina, the community instantly made me so welcomed,” he said. “They showed me around, presented all of the facts about the place and, within half an hour, it was a done deal. I made up my mind.

“Since I’ve been here for a few months now, we’ve had nothing but great interaction with the local community. We’ve got a great bunch of people here, it’s a pleasant place to be, it’s got easy access to communications and we just get anything we need when we need it. We couldn’t have picked a better place in the United States to be than here.”