In the past, we've explored the importance of regulatory certainty and the challenges posed by regulatory uncertainty.  Whether financing clean tech and renewable energy projects or deciding which states provide the best incentives for manufacturers and developers of such emerging technologies and renewable projects, a state's regulatory environment plays a critical role.  This is why recent actions by some governors to move money out of the budgets designated for clean tech and renewable energy or energy efficiency projects for use in closing budget gaps raises a concern.  As...

There was scary news out of Florida at the end of last month. Insurers were lobbying the cabinet for an increase in catastrophe fund insurance policyholder fees. This is the surcharge Florida regulators place on every automobile and property policy to pay for the Florida Catastrophe Fund, which needs up to $710 million to pay for 2005 (sic) claims that are still coming in. The Fund managers sought to increase the current surcharge from 1% to 1.3% of premiums. The increase was rejected by the Florida cabinet, ostensibly because of concerns over fraud. Seems public adjusters in Florida are too ...

We talked in January about the SEC's disclosure guidance and noted the relevance of the Carbon Disclosure Project. It's almost as if I have a hotline to 40 Bowling Green Lane in London, where the CDP offices are. I receved earlier this week their announcement of the 2010 questionnaire. It has been sent to 4,500 companies globally. The number of institutional investors behind the mailing is over 500 "with a combined US$64 trillion of assets under management." The email has this to say about the SEC guidance: "CDP welcomes the recent climate change risk disclosure guidance by the Securities and...