Siemens is opening a new 40,000 sq ft training facility in Orlando for technicians who service wind turbines throughout the Americas. It's one of four in the world and will train more than 2400 technicians annually.
Randy Zwirn is president and chief executive officer of Siemens Energy. He says wind is a growing energy sector even in Florida, where harnessing wind is not ideal.
"Hopefully even though we're not generating wind here there are additional benefits of that energy transformation that the country is experiencing that our local economy can benefit from", Zwirn said. "And I think this is one really good example."
Zwirn says wind farms in Florida would have to be located on the coasts, where they could be damaged by hurricanes. He says Orlando is ideal for Siemens' new training facility because of its airport, hotels and central location for trainees who will be coming from throughout the Americas.
Siemens already employs 3500 workers in Orlando at the company's headquarters for the Americas.