Al Gore has taken a partnership in Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, one of several Silicon Valley venture-capital firms with an eye toward financing alternative energy start-ups, so-called clean-tech companies.

John Doerr, a partner at Kleiner Perkins who is a strong advocate for the development of alternative energy technologies, said Gore would help the firm, one of Silicon Valley’s largest, attract innovative start-ups — an advantage in the firm’s competition with other venture capitalists.

Paul Kedrosky, a venture capitalist and author of the blog Infectious Greed, said Gore’s new role could benefit start-up companies by providing guidance through the political process.

Gore said he would donate his undisclosed salary to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonprofit policy foundation.