Watch CBS News

Google-Owned Wind Farm Company Expanding Into Huge Chunk Of Former Alameda Naval Base

ALAMEDA (KCBS) — Google is expanding its presence in the East Bay as a wind energy company it owns has secured a new lease at the formal naval base in Alameda.

When Google bought Makani Power in 2013, the seven year-old start up was leasing 17, 000 square feet at Alameda Point. The new lease calls for 127,000 square feet—with an option to take over the adjacent hangars and buildings as they become available.

Google-Owned Company Expanding In Alameda

"It's exciting to the city of Alameda on number of different levels," Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore told KCBS. "One, we get to keep a tenant and who is seriously on the cutting edge of technology, and with Google's investment. Who wouldn't want to have a high profile tenant like Google?"

The city is moving ahead with plans to redevelop Alameda Point and Gilmore said she hopes Google's presence communicates to companies that it's "the place to be."

Makani Power is working to build off-shore wind farms using tethered-winged devices that capture wind energy at high altitudes or above deep waters. The company has released a video that shows testing of the device:

Autonomous Transition to Hover by Makani on YouTube

They've also created an animation of what an onshore operation would look like.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.