Bill Gates-backed AirLoom begins building its first power plant
SMRTR summary
On a windswept plain in Wyoming, a peculiar sight is taking shape: an oval track, about the size of a high school running course, that could revolutionize wind power. Airloom Energy, a startup led by former Marine pilot Neal Rickner, is breaking ground on a pilot project that reimagines the traditional wind turbine.
Instead of towering pinwheels, Airloom's design features shorter blades attached to a cable running along an oval track. At just 60 feet tall, it's a fraction of the height of conventional turbines.
"We've got it all in the simulation. Now we gotta go build it," says Rickner.
The company aims to deliver cost-competitive wind power without subsidies, targeting data centers and military bases as potential customers. Despite recent headwinds in the wind industry, including rising costs and political opposition, Airloom sees an opportunity to disrupt the market with its innovative approach.
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