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The six million dollar men

Silicon Valley plans to clean up by investing in green energy.

Ripe for exploitation

The world’s 50-year addiction to oil has to end sometime. For venture capitalists, that represents an opportunity because competing energy sources have been held in check so long. “There is lots of low-hanging fruit because oil companies have been so conservative,” says Vinod Khosla, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who’s convinced we’ll never control global warming unless we embrace green energy. Here’s a taste of the “low-hanging fruit” Silicon Valley’s venture capitalists are feasting on.

• Amyris Biotechnologies: Genetically engineers microbes to produce renewable biofuels. Investors include: Duff Ackerman & Goodrich Ventures; Khosla Ventures; Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB); TPG
  
  

Konarka develops plastic solar cells that can be printed onto almost any surface.
Photo: Konarka Technoligies, Inc.
• Ausra Founders of this solar thermal company say they can generate large-scale green electricity at competitive costs. Investors include: Khosla Ventures; KPCB
  
  
• Konarka Develops plastic solar cells that can be printed onto almost any surface. Investors include: Asenqua Ventures; Draper Fisher Jurvetson; Presidio Venture Partners; Silicon Valley Bank
  
  
• Range Fuels Aims to have the first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol biofuel plant operating next year. Investors include: Khosla Ventures; Passport Capital
  
  
• Stion Develops high-efficiency thin-film solar cells. Investors include: Khosla Ventures; Lightspeed Venture Partners
  
  
• Transonic Combustion Improves the efficiency of petroleum-based engines to increase mileage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Investors include: Khosla Ventures; Venrock

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