Business News
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
With hundreds of climate-related insurance products already available to consumers and businesses, the California Department of Insurance has developed this database to help the public understand and access these products and encourage further insurance policy innovation in commercial, homeowners and auto lines, among other lines.
Recognizing the potential for specific insurance products to address climate risks and contribute to a sustainable future will encourage consumers and insurance companies to explore products that harness new technologies and promote resilience.
“Understanding, preventing, and reducing climate risk is of paramount importance, and we need innovative insurance solutions to accelerate the transition to sustainable and resilient communities and economies,” said Commissioner Lara. “When disaster strikes, insurance can help damaged homes, buildings, and vehicles be built back better, stronger, and greener and springboard into the cleanest technologies.”
The Climate Smart database lists more than 400 products currently available to consumers and businesses that address climate risks, harness new technologies, and build resilience.
They include insurance products and solutions that, among other products:
– Provide green-rebuild coverage, providing a pathway to building back stronger, more energy-efficient, and lower-emission buildings and vehicles;
– Promote fuel-efficiency by offering lower premiums for low-emission vehicles;
– Provide discounts for green energy use and energy efficiency certification;
– Provide discounts for businesses who operate hydrogen and hybrid electric buses;
– Protect low-income communities and natural ecosystems.
A June 1, 2020, report from the environmental nonprofit group Ceres recommends the development of a database of innovative insurance products that reduce emissions or increase resiliency.
"California Commissioner Lara and his team at the California Insurance Department deserve great credit for creating the Climate Smart Insurance Products Database,” said Steven M. Rothstein, managing director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. “This is part of a comprehensive insurance approach to climate risks. This database is a critical building block for a more sustainable future."
The database is another element in Commissioner Lara’s strategy to combat climate change. Last year, Commissioner Lara announced an agenda-setting effort with the United Nations to create a Sustainable Insurance Roadmap, a comprehensive climate change strategy and action plan that is envisioned to pave the way for innovative risk management, insurance, and investment solutions that reduce climate risks and protect natural ecosystems.
“One of the United Nations’ Principles for Sustainable Insurance promotes the aim of insurers working together with governments, regulators and other stakeholders in promoting widespread action on sustainability issues, and Commissioner Lara is showing us what regulators can actively do to make that happen and drive innovation,” said Butch Bacani, who leads UN Environment Programme’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI), the largest collaboration between the UN and the insurance industry. “With this pioneering database, Commissioner Lara is demonstrating sustainability leadership, and we hope that other regulators will step up to the plate and lead by example.”
Commissioner Lara previewed the database on July 8, 2020, at an international virtual event convened by the UN PSI and Swiss Re on sustainability leadership in insurance, which attracted more than 700 participants from over 60 countries.
In addition to working with the UN, California will be collaborating with Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to build on this innovative database.
California and Washington State have been working together with the UN Environment Programme as members of the PSI as well as the Sustainable Insurance Forum for regulators.
“I applaud Commissioner Lara and the California Insurance Department’s thoughtful initiative to make the full range of existing climate-related insurance products available to consumers and businesses,” said Commissioner Kreidler. “Providing this innovative access to these products encourages communication between policyholders and their insurers, and will no doubt lead to new ideas and more refined climate-related insurance products going forward.”
- Details
- Written by: Lake County Association of Realtors
Realtors are often one of the most engaged groups in their communities given their knowledge of the local areas they serve and the lasting relationships they create in those communities.
Lake County real estate agents and brokers continue to use this opportunity to give back.
“Our local Realtors are always there for our community, whether holding fundraisers for scholarships for the graduating seniors from our six Lake County High Schools, volunteering on boards, raising money and distributing Thanksgiving meals, participating in coat drives or giving donations to local charities," said Lake County Association of Realtors President Heidi Johnson, owner of Johnson Realty.
“We take seriously our responsibility to our community. This year we are donating the funds that would have been used for our annual Open House Extravaganza which was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Lake County Association of Realtors is paying it forward by donating $1,000 to Meals on Wheels and $1,000 to the Lake County Gleaners, both of which provide food to people in need,” Johnson added.
Like much of the community, Realtors who are independent contractors were heavily impacted by the state and local stay-at-home orders during what is typically our busiest time of year due to the pandemic home sales were stalled.
It has been a difficult few months for everyone but LCAOR said it is seeing listings quickly moving into contract with a big surge of buyers.
More homes have sold in June of 2020 than the same time period for last year. The group said it is optimistic the trend will continue and that fellow community members will see the same rebound.
“We know how hard Californians are working to keep our state safe, to keep our lives moving, to keep our sights focused on building a better future,” said California Association of Realtors President Jeanne Radsick. “I’m inspired every day by the kinds of stories I hear of healthcare workers, first responders and grocery clerks being there for their communities during this time of great need.”
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
SACRAMENTO – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma on Monday announced her appointment of Nancee Robles as executive director of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, or CPCFA, which provides low-cost innovative financing to California businesses, including issuing tax-exempt private activity bonds to qualified waste and recycling projects, and other projects to control pollution and improve water supply.
CPCFA also administers the California Capital Access Program, or CalCAP, which encourages financial institutions to make loans to small businesses and provides for specialty programs targeted toward building an improved infrastructure for zero- and partial-emission vehicles and helping small businesses comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Robles most recently served as acting executive director of IBank, an agency that finances public infrastructure and private development to promote jobs, the economy, and the quality of life in California communities.
The IBank issues tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds, provides direct loan financing to public agencies, and issues credit enhancements that leverage state and federal funds.
She managed the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program, the California Lending or Energy and Environmental Needs Program, 501(c)(3) Revenue Bond Program, Industrial Development Revenue Bond Program, Exempt Facility Revenue Bond Program and Governmental Bond Program, Small Business Loan Guarantee Program, Farm Loan Program, Jump Start Loan Program and the Disaster Relief Loan Program.
Prior to her state service, Robles spent more than 30 years in the private sector banking industry where she served a variety of financial institutions, most recently as senior credit supervisor and primary underwriting trainer for Fireside Bank in Pleasanton, California.
“My commitment to the public has been to bring the most talented employees to the State Treasurer’s Office, and we hit it out of the ballpark with Nancee. She is a highly regarded professional with superb public- and private-sector leadership experience,” said Treasurer Ma. “I am confident she will lead CPCFA with skill, dedication, and passion.”
Robles is no stranger to CPCFA. She began her state service there and she managed the CalCAP and Collateral Support Programs. She is a subject matter expert of the California State Small Business Initiative Act Programs.
Robles also held the position of treasury program manager II for the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority at the Treasurer’s Office.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in communications with a concentration in finance and workplace development from California State University at Sacramento and an executive MBA from California State University at Monterey Bay.
For more information about the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, go to https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/cpcfa/ .
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The free workshop is ideal for new and existing commercial cannabis cultivators and consultants. Those interested in attending can use the link below to watch the webcast – no registration is required. Closed captions will be provided.
Questions can be submitted in advance of and during the event by sending an email to
The workshop will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. July 22 at http://video.calepa.ca.gov .
CalCannabis will provide an overview of the state’s cannabis cultivation licensing program and review their requirements for commercial cannabis farming. CDFW will cover permitting, using the online notification system and how to reduce environmental impacts.
The State Water Board will review the cannabis policy, permitting process and other important information. Other regulatory agencies will also present.
For more information about becoming a licensed commercial cannabis farmer and for an overview of the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace METRC System, visit the CalCannabis website at http://calcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov , call 1‑833-CALGROW (1-833-225-4769) or send an email to
To report suspected illegal cannabis cultivation or related complaints, call the CalCannabis toll-free hotline: 1-833-WEED-TIP (1-833-933-3847).
To learn more about CDFW’s cannabis program, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/cannabis or send an email to
To learn more about the State Water Board’s role in cannabis cultivation permitting, visit http://waterboards.ca.gov/cannabis .
For permitting and compliance assistance, send an email to
How to resolve AdBlock issue?