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
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?
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