Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin met with Osceola County and NeoCity officials at NeoCity on Friday afternoon. The administrator received a briefing on the activities at NeoCity in general and then toured the clean rooms, research labs, and other facilities at the adjacent SkyWater building.
The trip also included a briefing by students, teachers, and Osceola County school board officials at the NeoCity Academy about the courses and curriculum available at the school, including Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. Zeldin was shown various labs containing 3D printers as well as electronics fabrication. He was also informed that the school not only runs entirely on solar panels but is able to sell back excess energy generated to the county each month.
Following the orientation at NeoCity Academy, the administrator took questions from local media. When asked how NeoCity had come to his attention, Zeldin stated that he had just visited several locations on the Space Coast and that NeoCity had been suggested by his staff as one of his visits during his time in Florida. Zeldin also stated that since his appointment and confirmation as the EPA administrator earlier this year, he had visited all 50 states and had now started a second round of visits. His visits to Florida have focused on several industries, including agriculture.
He seemed to be most impressed with both the students at NeoCity Academy whom he had encountered, as well as the opportunities for NeoCity students to access AP programs, sports, and extracurricular activities available at nearby Gateway High School. He was also informed that the school not only runs entirely on solar panels but is able to sell back excess energy generated to the county each month.
“The three students that briefed me at the NeoCity Academy were very poised, knowledgeable, and very articulate, and there was no doubt of how proud and excited they were of their school and the programs that they were pursuing,” said Zeldin.
Zeldin was seemingly also impressed with all the activities occurring at the NeoCity complex.
“As a member of the National Energy Dominance Council, I often meet with the President, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Interior, and Secretary of Commerce, and we are often having discussions that directly involve present and likely future of what we see here at NeoCity. When we’re talking about the strategic future for our country and the race for AI with China, as we talk batteries, chips, semiconductors, magnets. When we’re talking not just the extraction of rare earth material but the development of the entire process through finished projects and products, it is in many respects, yes, part of what is present and likely future here at NeoCity,” said the Administrator.
Early next year, NeoCity will break ground on a 30,000 square foot multi-use lab space building, funded by a $17.5 million grant from the State of Florida announced in late 2023. When complete, the lab will be the fifth building constructed so far on the NeoCity property. For more on NeoCity, go to https://bit.ly/4nWSGDH.
