A variety of news sources are reporting today that former Vice-President Al Gore has signed on as a partner at one of Silicon Valley's top venture capital firm. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers announced Monday that Gore, is joining the California-based VC firm as a partner with a portfolio aimed at alternative energy investments.

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has been heavily involved in financing alternative energy companies over the past few years. Gore shared a Nobel Peace Prize last year for his work on global warming.

Reuters sees the move by Gore as having political implications: "The move deepens Gore's involvement in the private sector and makes a return to U.S. presidential politics less likely."

According to Crain's NY Business, Gore's office will be in NYC - at One Bryant Park, where he hopes that his 5,000 square foot office space will get green certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

There are always nay sayers. PopSciBlog takes a cynical tone in its coverage of Gore's move: "Hey, if you're going to try to save the world, why not try to make a few million dollars while you're at it?" However much money Gore makes in his new position, DeSmogBlog is reporting that he has promised that he will "donate his undisclosed salary to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonprofit policy foundation.?

Kleiner recently expanded its operations to include projects in China.