The Oil Drum debate, round one

The Oil Drum debate, round one

With VC investments in clean technologies growing, and the state making important energy policy decisions to fend off global warming, the oil-ethanol debate is growing in importance. The valley has a stake in understanding the economics of a switch away from oil, to support ethanol.

Robert… Continue Reading

HP spied on board members, including KP’s Tom Perkins

HP spied on board members, including KP’s Tom Perkins

Patricia Dunn

Pretty extraordinary revelation: Hewlett Packard Chairwoman Patricia Dunn (pictured here) authorized a team of consultants to obtain home phone records of HP board members without their knowledge.

The board members included Tom Perkins (pictured below). According to the Merc:

When board member Tom Perkins… Continue Reading

Holy smokes: Cilion grabs $200M, largest ever alternative energy VC deal?

Holy smokes: Cilion grabs $200M, largest ever alternative energy VC deal?

We are still pinning this story down, but we’re hearing that Cilion, the California ethanol comany formed by well-known Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla (pictured here), has just raised $200 million.

This may be the largest ever alternative energy deal by venture capitalists. It is… Continue Reading