SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                            Beacon Power Corporation
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value per Share
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   073677 10 6
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                November 16, 2000
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

           [  ]  Rule 13d-1(b) [  ]  Rule 13d-1(c)    [X]  Rule 13d-1(d)

           *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
           person's  initial  filing on this form with  respect  to the  subject
           class of  securities,  and for any  subsequent  amendment  containing
           information  which  would alter the  disclosures  provided in a prior
           cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).







CUSIP No.  073677 10 6



1.       Name of Reporting Person
         I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person (entities only)

         Mechanical Technology, Incorporated

2.       Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

           (a)  [  ]               (b)  [  ]

3.       SEC Use Only

4.       Citizenship or Place of Organization

         New York

         Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person with:

5.       Sole Voting Power                                   3,866,649

6.       Shared Voting Power                                 --0--

7.       Sole Dispositive Power                              3,866,649

8.       Shared Dispositive Power                            --0--

9.       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned
         by Each Reporting Person                                   3,866,649

10.      Check box if the Aggregate Amount
         in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares

11.      Percent of Class Represented by
         Amount in Row (9)                                          9.20%

12.      Type of Reporting Person                                   CO

Item 1.

           (a)  Name of Issuer:
                Beacon Power Corporation

           (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

                234 Ballardvale Street
                Wilmington, MA  01887-1032

Item 2.

           (a)  Name of Person Filing:

                Mechanical Technology, Incorporated

           (b)  Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:

                30 South Pearl Street
                Albany, NY  12207

           (c)  Citizenship:

                Mechanical Technology, Incorporated is incorporated in the state
                of New York

           (d)  Title of Class of Securities:

                Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

           (e)  CUSIP Number:

                073677 10 6

Item 3.    If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules. 240.13d-1(b), or
           240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)        [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act.

(b)        [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.

(c)        [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 13(a)(19) of the Act.

(d)        [ ] Investment  company  registered under Section 8 of the Investment
               Company Act of 1940.

(e)        [ ] An    investment    adviser   in    accordance    with   Rule
               240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)        [ ] An employee  benefit plan or endowment  fund in  accordance  with
               Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g)        [ ] A parent  holding  company or control  person in accordance  with
               Rule 240.13d- 1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)        [ ] A savings  association  as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
               Deposit Insurance Act;

(i)        [ ] A  church  plan  that  is  excluded  from  the  definition  of an
               investment  company  under  section  3(c)(14) of  the  Investment
               Company Act of 1940;

(j)        [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

           If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 240.13d-1(c),  check this
           box [ ].

Item 4.    Ownership.

Provide the following  information regarding the aggregate number and percentage
of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

           (a)   Amount beneficially owned:   3,866,649

           (b)   Percent of class:  9.20%

           (c)   Number of shares as to which such person has:

           (i)   Sole power to vote or direct the vote   3,866,649

           (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote  --0--

           (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 3,866,649

           (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of   --0--

Item 5.    Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

Not Applicable

Item 6.    Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not Applicable

Item 7.    Identification  and  Classification of  the Subsidiary which Acquired
           the  Security  Being  Reported  on by the Parent  Holding  Company or
           Control Person.

Not Applicable

Item 8.    Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not Applicable

Item 9.    Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not Applicable



Item 10.   Certifications.

           By signing  below I certify  that,  to the best of my  knowledge  and
           belief,  the  securities  referred to above were not acquired and are
           not held  for the  purpose  of or with  the  effect  of  changing  or
           influencing  the control of the issuer of the securities and were not
           acquired and are not held in connection  with or as a participant  in
           any transaction having that purpose or effect.


                                            Signature.


After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


                                            Mechanical Technology, Incorporated


                                            By:    /s/ Cynthia A. Scheuer
                                                --------------------------------
                                            Name:   Cynthia A. Scheuer
                                            Title:  Vice President and Chief
                                                      Financial Officer
                                            Dated:  February 14, 2001