Matt Neal, President of North America, Siemens Energy

In an interview with Invest:, Matt Neal, president of North America for Siemens Energy, discussed the company’s accelerating growth across the United States and the strategic role of Central Florida in that expansion. “Orlando is the center of Siemens Energy in the United States,” Neal said, underscoring the region’s importance as both a headquarters and innovation hub for the company’s North American operations.

How would you describe the past year for Siemens Energy in North America, particularly in Florida?

Our business in North America has been in a growth cycle that continues to accelerate. The United States is the largest market in the world for Siemens Energy, and it is also the fastest growing.

The broader energy landscape is undergoing a generational shift driven by electrification. Data centers are part of that story and represent an important segment of our business, but the trend is much larger. Across manufacturing, industrial processes and the wider economy, electricity demand is rising as more sectors become electrified.

Siemens Energy plays a major role in that transition. We generate roughly 25% of the electricity produced in the United States, and we also have a large installed base of transmission equipment that moves that power across the grid.

Florida, and Orlando in particular, plays a central role in that effort. Orlando is the center of Siemens Energy in the United States. We have our largest concentration of employees there, along with a growing innovation center. We are continuing to invest heavily in that ecosystem, including partnerships with local universities such as the University of Central Florida.

Siemens Energy is investing in a new innovation campus and leadership center in Lake Nona. What made Orlando the right location for that strategic investment?

We have had a significant presence in Orlando for more than 40 years, so there was never any question about remaining in the region. It has consistently been a place that supports our business and our workforce. Many of our employees have built their careers there, and the local ecosystem continues to provide the talent and partnerships we need.

Out of the $1 billion investment Siemens Energy is making across the United States, $131 million is being invested in Florida. That reflects our long-term commitment to Orlando and to the state as a whole.

Moving to Lake Nona and building a new campus allows us to create an environment that reflects the future of our company. While we are proud of our heritage, including the legacy of Westinghouse before Siemens Energy, we also want to give our employees a workplace that represents where we are going. The new facility reinforces that Orlando will remain a key location for Siemens Energy well into the future.

How do the company’s investments across the country strengthen its long-term positioning in the U.S. energy market?

One of our most significant investments is in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is our largest single investment location. We are expanding gas turbine production there and bringing new manufacturing capabilities to the United States. We are also building a large power transformer facility there. That site will be unique because it will bring together gas generation manufacturing and transmission grid equipment production in the same location.

Another important investment is in near Jackson, Mississippi, where we are constructing a new factory close to an existing facility. That new site will produce high-voltage circuit breakers and substation equipment.

The broader strategy behind these investments is to strengthen domestic manufacturing for the U.S. grid. A significant portion of grid equipment has historically been imported into the country. For example, about 80% of large power transformers were imported. That level of dependency is not sustainable for critical infrastructure. Our goal is to build more of that equipment domestically and support the long-term reliability and resilience of the U.S. grid.

How does Siemens Energy view the state of Florida’s role in the broader North American energy transition?

States play a major role in shaping the future of the energy system. Their policies influence how energy is generated, transmitted and permitted, and they also help attract industry and population growth.

Florida has been very successful in positioning itself as a business-friendly environment, which continues to attract companies and new residents. That growth creates additional electricity demand, which makes the state an important part of the national energy conversation.

From our perspective as an employer, Florida offers a strong workforce pipeline and a solid education system. That combination allows companies like Siemens Energy to recruit and develop talent locally. We also evaluate policy and regulatory frameworks when making investment decisions, and Florida remains an important market for our long-term strategy.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing the energy sector today, particularly in areas such as permitting, workforce development, and supply chains?

Permitting stability is one of the most important issues for our industry. It is not necessarily about speeding up the process as much as it is about consistency. When projects receive permits, companies need confidence that those permits will remain valid throughout the construction cycle. Changes in the permitting environment midway through a project can create major disruptions.

Workforce development is another key challenge. In particular, the industry needs more skilled workers in technical and manufacturing roles. We are focused on building pipelines for field service technicians, construction professionals and factory workers. This is an area that has been underinvested in for many years.

Supply chain development is also critical. As we expand manufacturing capacity in the United States, we need suppliers to grow alongside us. Ensuring that our supply chain partners can scale with our investments is a major priority.

Artificial intelligence is often discussed in terms of automation and job disruption. How do you see AI influencing the energy sector and the workforce?

AI is creating new requirements for physical infrastructure. Data centers and digital technologies require enormous amounts of electricity, which means we need more generation, transmission and grid equipment to support them.

In that sense, AI is increasing demand for physical assets and infrastructure. Building that infrastructure creates opportunities across the workforce, particularly in engineering, construction and manufacturing.

Within Siemens Energy, we also see AI augmenting our workforce rather than replacing it. It helps engineers and professionals work more efficiently, allowing them to spend more time communicating with customers, partners and suppliers. AI can automate certain processes, but it also enables people to focus on the areas where human collaboration and expertise matter most.

Looking ahead, how will Siemens Energy continue to deepen its presence in the Orlando region?

Our innovation center in Orlando is the clearest example of our long-term commitment. Through that center, we collaborate closely with the University of Central Florida and other partners. We have already invested at least $5 million in research initiatives focused on energy technologies.

The location allows us to bring together engineering talent, research institutions and industry expertise in one place. Because many of our engineers for critical products are based in Orlando, the innovation center sits at the heart of our technical ecosystem.

That collaboration will continue to expand. The innovation center will remain the focal point for research and technology development for Siemens Energy in the United States. Partnerships will also remain central to our strategy, as many of the R&D projects we pursue are developed jointly with local organizations in the region.