While Congress continues to debate the merits of renewable energy portfolio standards, venture capitalists in Silicon Valley are taking a stand. Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and their newest partner, Al Gore, dozens of VC firms are expanding their investments into clean tech opportunities.

According to the Washington Post's announcement of Gore's newest venture:

North American and European venture capitalists invested $1.9 billion in clean-tech companies in the first half of 2007, a 10 percent increase compared with the first half 2006, the trade group Cleantech Network said.

Last year, Kleiner Perkins reserved $100 million of its $600 million investment fund for start-ups that work on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The firm expects to dedicate one-third of new funding to clean tech by 2009.

Of course, these figures pale in comparison to the $3.2 billion earmarked for wind and solar projects in the House version of the energy bill, but at least the private sector is putting its money where its mouth is. Congressional "leaders" are merely seeking the path of least resistance to a watered down energy bill that the President is likely to veto anyway.

Here's the big question in my mind: how long will it take Al Gore's private sphere of influence to impact the political process as it pertains to clean tech policy?

Carbon Neutral Journal's thoughts are brought to you by Hawtin Jorgensen Architects.

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