Bill Gates-backed AirLoom begins building its first power plant

AirLoom, a wind power startup backed by Bill Gates, is beginning construction on its first pilot power plant near Laramie, Wyoming. The company aims to challenge the traditional wind turbine model by using a novel design that features blades moving along a track, rather than rotating in a large circle. This pilot system will generate about 150 kilowatts, using components scalable to megawatt-level installations. The design allows for shorter tracks initially, with plans for larger systems in the future, and the space between tracks can accommodate solar panels or farming activities, reflecting a multifunctional land use approach. Despite headwinds facing the wind power industry—including political opposition and rising costs, with onshore wind prices reaching $61 per megawatt-hour—AirLoom’s CEO Neal Rickner believes their technology can be cost-competitive even at low volumes and without subsidies. The company targets commercial deployment by 2027 or 2028, slightly later than initially planned, with potential customers including military bases and