Let's Go Fly a Wind Turbine

Alameda, California, has a long history of welcoming advanced airborne machines: at various times, the city has been home to a Pan Am seaplane hub, a public airport called the San Francisco Bay Airdrome, and a major naval air station. All have since closed, but much of the related infrastructure — cavernous hangars, control towers, vast stretches of runway — remain.

A company called Makani Power decided to take advantage of these aviation leftovers and now occupies a hangar, tower, and fire station on the old naval station grounds. Founded by a trio of kiteboarders in 2006, Makani (Hawaiian for "gentle wind") is perfecting a flying wind turbine that can capture wind at higher altitudes — where it’s more powerful and consistent — and turn it into energy on the ground. The idea: to deliver more energy with more consistency than conventional wind turbines, with lower costs, fewer materials, and a smaller footprint.