Insurers Offer Rewards for Going Green

In case you haven't already heard, there are a growing number of insurers who have begun to offer lower premiums on auto, homeowner and property insurance for people who drive less, own hybrid cars, or build green homes. For background, I suggest you check out articles on Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek.

More recently, insurers are offering extra coverage that makes it possible to rebuild a home in an eco-friendly way after a catastrophe. Under the new policy offerings, if a home is totally destroyed, it can be rebuilt completely to green standards. Check out this New York Times to read more.

NC General Assembly Passes Environmental Bills

Earlier this week, legislators at the NC General Assembly passed a bill that strives to make it easier to install solar collectors. More specifically, the bill (H1387) would limit city or county ordinances or deed restrictions that limit installation of solar collectors on residential property. An ordinance could still limit the location of solar collectors so that they are not visible by a person on the ground in public areas. The bill is currently on Gov. Perdue's desk.

In addition, legislators passed bills providing loans for energy improvements and expanding credits for investing in renewable energy. A bill to establish a permitting process for windmills, however, failed amid fears of dotting the tourist-friendly mountains with the wind catchers. A similar debate is going on at the coast.