Capitalism, Now With More Gore

Al Gore joins big-name venture-capital firm, will focus on green investment

Posted at 6:26 AM on 13 Nov 2007

Former vice president Al Gore has joined a notable venture-capital firm that's aiming to step up investment in green businesses. In his role as a partner at California-based firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Gore will investigate the potential growth of alternative-energy start-up companies and counsel the firm on related greenish investments. No stranger to capitalism, Gore has been a big advocate of "free trade" and was VP when NAFTA kicked in (um, thanks?). In 2004, he co-founded green investment firm Generation Investment Management with David Blood. GIM now handles $1.5 billion in investments, and under the deal with Kleiner Perkins, GIM will share its London offices with Kleiner, and Gore's friend John Doerr will sit on GIM's board of directors. But Gore insists it ain't just about the money -- at least, not just his money. Gore said he'll donate his entire salary from his new part-time gig to the nonprofit Alliance for Climate Protection.

sources: San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, Reuters

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Comments: (2 comments)

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Give Credit, Al

For the past 8 long years, George W. Bush has funded hydrogen technology and fuel cell technology. It was appropriate, needed funding and the proper role of government.

In the same period private industry and universities have advanced solar cell and nanotechnology to the point where soft high yield fabrics of solar sheets are now being sold and can be added to roof of almost any home.

There are those on both sides of the aisle working and striving to help us solve pollution.

I would wish Al would use his tremendous communications powers to give due credit to efforts like those of Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to build the Hydrogen Highway, and companies like Fuel Cell Energy (FCEL) which can use natural gas, and wastewater, and research into algae that can breakdown biowaste into H2.

by jabailo at 6:37 PM on 13 Nov 2007

so, can good things come from Blood and Gore?

by kwarren at 11:52 AM on 18 Nov 2007

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