Farmers Insurance has launched Rideshare Insurance Coverage for ride-hailing drivers in Nevada.
“As a leading provider of automobile insurance in the U.S. and a market leader in the ride-hailing insurance market, Farmers has developed this innovative Rideshare Insurance Coverage to offer Nevada ride-hail drivers coverage options as part of their Farmers personal auto insurance policies,” said Mariel Devesa, head of product innovation for Farmers Insurance. “We recognize that consumer needs are continuing to evolve and our ability to provide this important coverage to customers is a further demonstration of our commitment to meeting changing consumer demands.”
Farmers Insurance collaborated with leaders from transportation network companies, Nevada Division of Insurance and legislators to help design its coverage around the needs of ride-hailing drivers and the structure of Nevada’s new ride-hailing law.
“We congratulate Farmers Insurance for taking a leadership role in protecting Nevada’s consumers,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval. “Ride-hailing drivers and their passengers, other drivers and pedestrians will all benefit from this new coverage offered by Farmers.”
The ride-hailing law requires drivers to be covered by insurance when the app is on. Policies in Nevada don’t often cover ride-hailing drivers, according to a release from Farmers.
The coverage includes comprehensive and collision coverage that can pay for damages to the driver’s vehicle and uninsured and underinsured drivers, along with medical payments coverage.
According to Farmers, the cost of the police will generally add an additional $15 a month to premiums.
Switch goes 100 percent renewable
Switch Communications, a large-scale data center with 1,000 clients, began powering its SUPERNAP data centers in Nevada with a 100 percent renewable source after it made a pledge to join the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, a White House-led initiative to bring private-sector companies together to fight climate change.
Switch has partnered with NV Energy to be powered by renewable sources through existing facilities in Nevada while it builds a new 180-megawatt system. Both Switch Station 1 and Station 2 will be powered by the new system, pegged for completion by the end of 2016. The centers are now the world’s largest colocation data centers to adopt all-inclusive green technology.
“Switch has set a new standard for using renewable resources to power their growing business,” said NV Energy President and CEO Paul Caudill. “We all are proud to partner with Switch to help it become the first Southern Nevada customer to be supplied by 100 percent renewable energy. Switch’s leadership has opened the door for other large customers, including the City of Las Vegas, to meet their own renewable energy goals without negatively impacting the rates of other customers.”
Switch worked with NV Energy and the Nevada Public Utilities Commission to develop a NV Green Energy Rider tariff for Southern Nevada. The tariff allows Switch to operate on NV Energy’s renewable resources including geo-thermal, wind, hydro and solar.
According to statistics from the National Resources Defense Council, data centers are becoming one of the fastest growing consumers of electricity. U.S. data centers are estimated to consume 91 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough electricity to power every home in New York City times two, according to the NRDC.
Army, Goodwill in jobs partnership
Representatives of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Goodwill of Southern Nevada have signed an agreement to provide priority hiring status to qualified soldiers who are participating in the Partnership for Youth Success Program.
“We are excited to welcome Goodwill of Southern Nevada to our team of corporate/government agency partners in the Partnership for Youth Success program,” said Lt. Col Matthew Harmon. “It is a perfect partnership for those exiting the service who wish to continue on a path of service to others.”
The partnership is between the Army and a cross section of U.S. corporations and various public sector agencies. The program was created to help the army attract, train and deploy potential candidates to enlistment into the army, along with helping to secure their future in the community.
“We recognize that veterans have the skills, discipline, experience and work ethic to become valuable team members at Goodwill of Southern Nevada,” said Steve Chartrand, president and CEO of Goodwill of Southern Nevada.
Under the agreement, enlistees will receive job training while they are in the army. The recruits will sign a statement of intent to work for Goodwill of Southern Nevada upon their completion of military training as part of the enlistment process.
Soldiers will have the opportunity to interview with Goodwill of Southern Nevada for a specific job at a specific location as they near the end of their enlistment. The army partners with nearly 600 corporations and public sector agencies across the country including the Las Vegas/Clark County Metro police agency.
