Well, isn’t that convenient?
Some snippets in a row (trust me, it’ll make sense) from http://business.rediff.com/report/2009/aug/08/indian-american-gets-top-post-in-department-of-commerce.htm
“Ro Khanna, 32, has been appointed by President Barack Obama as the new deputy assistant secretary of commerce for domestic operations of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration at the US Department of Commerce.”
Sources told rediff.com that his appointment had been strongly pushed at the highest levels and recommended to the White House by influential US lawmakers including Congressman Mike Honda and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, both of California — where Khanna hails from — and by Indian American entrepreneurs, including prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur Vinod Khosla.
“Khosla, who was a major supporter of Obama in his presidential campaign and a heavyweight among fund-raisers for the Democratic Party, in his letter pushing for Khanna’s appointment, said he was recommending Khanna “enthusiastically for a position concerning energy policy and/or international trade” in the Obama administration.”
hmmm…wonder why he specified what Khanna’s role should be down to the task…..maybe because:
(from Bloomberg) - excerpted
—
Khosla Ventures, the energy investment firm run by billionaire Vinod Khosla, said it raised more than $1 billion for two investment funds focused on the clean-energy industry.
Khosla Ventures is investing in solar power and biofuels on the principle that those technologies can replace most fossil fuels. The Menlo Park, California-based company’s new fund is the largest any venture firm has raised this year as rivals pull back on energy deal-making.
Khosla Ventures has invested in at least 37 clean- technology companies, according to its Web site. The Khosla III fund has about $825 million to back companies that haven’t yet perfected their technologies, as well as those ready to add sales and marketing staff, Khosla said.
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[Khosla] said he discussed energy policy “with Ro on a regular basis, and I am impressed with the depth of his knowledge,” and argued that Khanna recognises “that the federal government must increase Research and Development and deployment spending for clean energy,” and also appreciated that “America’s innovation of clean technologies will create new jobs and exports of the 21st century.”
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Good luck to Mr. Khosla of using the time-honored American practice of making a sh*tload of money, then using it to buy government influence to make an even bigger sh*tload of money.
With the Obama administration giving loaning a half billion dollars to electric car maker Tesla, its a safe bet that some of the “stimulus” funding will find its way into clean energy. And when that happens, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Khanna return the favor Khosla paid him by helping him get the job. Now by the way, remember the Khosla was a lifelong Republican; his newfound admiration for the liberal Khanna (Khanna, a protege of Speaker Pelosi, is an active member of Environmental Entrepreneurs, served on the Board of Sustainable San Mateo County) could owe to the the fact that “Khanna has also been a leading voice for the Indian American community for strengthening US-India relations” as Khosla claims. But in all likely it has more to do with this gem dropped by Khosla
Khosla added, “Ro can also leverage his relationships with the Asian American community to promote clean tech exports in Japan, Korea and China.”“
Gee, and I wonder which member of the Asian-American community he’ll turn to first for that.
What to watch for: Energy Efficiency Trade Mission; New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai from November 16 to 20. Led by Khanna to India; in part to secure potential contracts between India and US companies to work towards India’s conversvation goal of 10K MW between 2007-2012.
Follow Up:
It’ll be interesting to see which corporate participants are (and ultimately who wins the contracts)….and how they line up with Khosla Ventures’ portfolio:
(from Khoslaventures.com)
- Stion
- Ausra
- Infinia
- PVT
- AltaRock
- Great Point Energy
- Sakti3
- Firefly
- Ramu
- NanoH20
- Nanostellar
- Codon
- Seeo
- Kaai
- Soraa
- Lumenz
- Topanga
- GIV
- Gridshift
- PAX Streamline
- EcoMotors
- Transonic
- Tula
- Hybradrive
- Amyris
- LS9
- Gevo
- KiOR
- Mascoma
- Range
- Coskata
- Lanza
- Cilion
- Draths
- Segetis
- Soladigm
- Calera
