Doerr’s crusade on global warming
When John Doerr spoke at the Ted conference in March, he broke into tears at the end of a 20-minute talk about global warming.
We heard from some participants that the speech was moving.
The talk is on YouTube, and is worth watching. Doerr summarizes what large companies like Wal-Mart can do, what governments can do (citing California’s emission-capping legislation, but more, such as geothermal policy), what entrepreneurs can do (make “designer bugs” for biofuels, for example)… Continue Reading
Change your lightbulbs, and more environment news
Here’s the latest on environment developments:
Did you know this? — Fluorescent lightbulbs, those funny looking spiral bulbs that cost a little more than regular bulbs, will save you money in the long run (they last longer), and are also kinder to the environment. No brainer to buy these things, right? Well, that’s not happening, because people don’t seem to get it. So a state lawmaker wants to implement legislation to ban sales of the standard incandescent… Continue Reading
President Bush to push ethanol
In his State of the Union address tonight, President Bush is expected to call for a doubling of ethanol use in gasoline.
This is a much delayed but very important step by the Administration to recognize that global warming has become a serious problem.
It comes after ten major companies — from General Electric to Dupont and PG&E — launched an initiative yesterday to push for mandatory federal emission controls, something Bush is unlikely to support…. Continue Reading
Global warming continues, Schwarzenegger to boost green tech
Amid continued evidence global warming is speeding up, Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed new regulations requiring a 10 percent reduction in the carbon content of all passenger vehicle fuels sold in California by 2020.
Details are still being ironed out, but it suggests the Silicon Valley environment for investments in green technologies will remain healthy.
The standard would apply to all gasoline refiners, and it could be met if they increase the amount of… Continue Reading
YouTube’s spoils, Yahoo answers, Danger, fuddy US companies & more
The latest roundup of the action happening in Silicon Valley:
First evidence of YouTube wealth — What do you do with your money, when you get it? One way is to spend $20 million to buy Andre Agassi’s Tiburon estate. That’s what Stuart Peterson, of Artis Capital Management, an investor in YouTube, did, as PE Week’s Alex Haislip reports. Or you can invest it into night clubs, as some Web entrepreneurs have done.
Google Answers shuts down, while… Continue Reading
Silicon Valley leaders prove clout on global warming bill
Turns out, a group of Silicon Valley venture capitalists, including Kleiner Perkins’ John Doerr, and other business folks helped tipped the balance on the landmark global warming bill passed last week.
The bill, AB 32, mandates that California reduce global warming emissions by 25 percent — to 1990 levels — by the year 2020. Major carbon-emitting industries will be forced to report emissions to the state Air Resources Board.
California Assembly Member Pavley, co-author of AB 32,… Continue Reading