Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Peng K. Lim, certify that:

|1. |  | I
      have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Mechanical Technology,
      Incorporated;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
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|2. |  | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
      make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
      statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
      this report;                              
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|3. |  | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
      financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
      material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
      flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
      report;                                                 
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|4. |  | The registrants other certifying officer and I are responsible for
      establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
      defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e)) and internal
      control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
      13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
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|   |  | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|   |  | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|   |  | c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|   |  | d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|5. |  | The
      registrants other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our
      most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
      the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of
      directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):                                             
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|   |  | (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
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|   |  | (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

|November 12,
      2009 | /S/ PENG K. LIM               | 
|----------------------- | ----------------------------- | 
|                        | Peng
      K. Lim            
|                        | Chief
      Executive Officer
|                        | (Principal Executive Officer)

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