Here's a sampling of new environmental bills and resolutions introduced this week.

School Impact Fund: House Bill 2550 (Grucela-D-Northampton) authorizes a school boards to levy an educational impact fee on new subdivisions and building permits.

Solar Tax Credit: House Bill 2565 (Leach-D-Montgomery) amends the Tax Reform Code to exclude solar equipment and installation from state Sales and Use Tax.

Solar Installation Grants: House Bill 2566 (Leach-D-Montgomery) authorizes the use of Growing Greener II environmental bond proceeds to provide funding for the installation of residential solar energy systems and related education.

Solar Feasibility Study: House Bill 2567 (Leach-D-Montgomery) directs the Department of General Services to conduct a Solar Power System Feasibility Study on all new state-construction buildings.

Farmland Preservation License Plate: House Bill 2591 (Armstrong-R-Lancaster) creating a special vehicle license plate with proceeds going to farmland preservation.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month: House Resolution 661 (E.Z.Taylor-R-Chester) would designate May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month.”

Drinking Water Awareness Month: House Resolution 679 (Rubley-R-Chester) would designate May as “Drinking Water Awareness Month.”

Greenhouse Gas Report: House Resolution 692 (Ross-R-Chester) directs the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to study and report on the issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Alternative Energy: House Resolution 694 (Cohen-D-Philadelphia) calls for the holding of a conference on the use of alternative energy sources in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

Rachel Carson Day: House Resolution 702 (Josephs-D-Philadelphia) designing May 27 as Rachel Carson Day in recognition of the birthday of the author and environmentalist from Springdale, Allegheny County. She would have been 99 this year.

4/7/2006