A wind turbine or other rotary device has its outer perimeter constructed with coils that form a rotor (26) of an electrical generator. A stator assembly (52) is positioned at the lower perimeter of the path of the rotor and includes stator halves that are juxtaposed the moving rotor for generating electricity. The stator halves include an air bearing that provides substantially frictionless contact with the rotor, allowing the free rotor to move with a minimum of resistance.