Biofuels Personality of the Year, Finalist: Vinod Khosla

December 19, 2007

Vinod Khosla had a quieter year this year, a change of pace for the legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist who has injected more cash and credibility into the US ethanol industry than any other investor.

Like the industry he supports and in some ways commands, it was a year of consolidation at his first-generation ethanol investments, although he made a splash with his partnership with Sir Richard Branson in Cilion, which is building numerous 55 Mgy ethanol plants in California among other locales.

Khosla spent a good part of the year on the stump, advocating continued protection of the US ethanol industry as well as defending ethanol against some the claims by ethanol’s detractors regarding the net energy output from ethanol production.

Among his investments in the news, LS9 is developing a new synthetic biofuel from microorganisms. The venture predicts that its process will yield 50% more energy from the same feedstocks as used today, will use 65% less energy in the process, can be transported by existing oil pipelines and used in non-flex-fuel engines. He joined DAG Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and TPG Ventures in a $70 million round for Amyris Biotechnologies. Amyris creates designer microorganisms to increase the efficiency of converting biomass into fuels.

Khosla has not publicly discussed his 2008 investments or plans, but one can be sure that his moves will attract attention and make a difference. He contributed the maximum $2300 to the campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and John McCain. The McCain contribution is particularly surprising, considering that McCain is the leading Presidential candidate opposed to ethanol subsidies.

Who will be the Biofuels Personality of the Year for 2007? Chavez? Gore? Ban Ki-Moon? Castro? Bush? Branson? Feature stories will continue through December 31st when the Biofuels Personality of the Year will be announced. Consideration is given to those who have made the most impact on the biofuels industry this year - for good or ill.

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Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under News & Financial Analysis