A fleeting impression of Vinod Khosla

I saw Vinod Khosla last night on the program NOW on a Southern California PBS channel. Khosla, a venture capitalist focused on ethanol, completely changed my mind about ethanol. I now have more doubt than ever.

Khosla objected to any question regarding ethanol's ability to 'save the planet' as a conspiracy committed by the oil companies. Big oil profited $10 billion in one quarter, Khosla consistently reminded the interviewer. Consequently, any scientist or any attempt to question ethanol as the cure to America's energy problems was paid for by big oil.

Please. There are many, many scientists whom have very legitimate concerns regarding the potential of ethanol.

Moreover, citing $10 billion dollars in quarterly profit cannot be the answer to every objection raised by critics. Believe me, Khosla seemed to say, because they have $10 billion in profits to fight me and the truth.

Hmmm. Currently, profit margins on ethanol are extremely high. So, if ethanol would happen to explode how many billions would Khosla rake in? Isn't that a tiny bit of a self-serving conflict of interest? Sure high oil profits are a concern, but other American industries have even higher profit margins. Moreover, those profit margins would never have occurred without hurricane Katrina, for example.

High oil profits are a good reason to stop any tax benefits for oil companies, but not the best reason to end oil dependence. Security is the best reason to end oil dependence, regardless of the profit margins.

Energy security is a very important American issue, for it's not just energy security, but national security. Such an issue demands complete and utter honesty, and honesty was something that Mr. Khosla seemed to be lacking.

I believe ethanol has great potential, but without a considerable improvement in fuel economy and energy efficiency, I also believe ethanol offers very little. Honestly, and I don't have billions or even millions at stake, nor am I paid by any oil company.