The former vice president has of course long been promoting a pro-environment agenda. But he’s also making big money in the process. One of his investments, Silver Spring Networks, just received $560 million in Department of Energy grants to develop smart grid technology.

Sure it might have been helpful that the former vice president was an SSN investor, but Gore’s not shy about his 30-year record on promoting eco-friendly ideas.

As revealed in the New York Times, Gore has been investing in many things green. He’s reinvested the millions he gets from speaking fees into green companies and could be heading for the land of billionaires.

Mentioning Gore’s name to those who think global warming is a hoax typically producers loud howls of derision.

But Gore dismisses his critics. He’s proud of his business acumen. He’s picked a winner in green technology, has invested heavily in what he believes in and is making money, lots of money. He told the NYTimes that in addition to the SSN smart grid investment, he’s also investing tens of millions in:

• carbon trading markets
• solar cell technology
• waterless urinals
• biotechnology ventures
• Apple, and
• Google.

Gore donated the profits from his Academy Award winning movie, An Inconvenient Truth, to his Alliance for Climate Protection and the Climate Project.

Gore’s back in the news because he’s just released a book, Our Choice, which is printed on 100% recycled paper. Again, all profits go to his nonprofit organizations.