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 Rapier (pictured below) works for an oil company, but he says he cares about the environment. He co-authors a powerful blog called The Oil Drum, and recently wrote a scathing… 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 learned of the surveillance, the well-known venture capitalist abruptly quit the board and stormed out of the May meeting.

“Tom Perkins resigned because of a disagreement about HP’s governance practices,” 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 also significant because the company is so young; it was formed barely three months ago.

But with everyone from Bill Gates to Virgin Airways chief Richard Branson and California’s two… Continue Reading