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Here's a rundown on the environmental bills signed into law by Gov. Rendell this week--

Advanced Energy Portfolio Standards: Senate Bill 1030 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requires electric distributors and generators that sell directly to retail customers to have 18 percent of the energy they sell be from renewable or sources other than coal and nuclear power by 2019. NewsClip (See more reaction to the portfolio standards below.)

Alternative Fuels: on Senate Bill 255 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) making changes to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Program to include stationary power projects. The bill also authorizes a $10 million transfer to the Energy Development Authority that was included in this year’s budget. Act 178. NewsClip + Energy Dev. Authority Board Named

Sewer/Water Funding: Senate Bill 1102 (Gordner-R-Northumberland) would allocate $200 million to the Commonwealth Financing Authority and $150 to PennVEST ($50 million from the bond question and $100 million from existing debt authority) to fund water and wastewater projects. Act 218

Watershed Education Program: House Bill 2775 (Zug-R-Lebanon) creates a Watershed Education Program within the Department of Education to provide grants to school districts and environmental education centers to support water education efforts. Act 231. (See more on the Watershed Education Program below.)

Senior Environment Corps: Senate Bill 1041 (Pippy-R-Allegheny) establishing the Senior Environment Corps Program in law with the departments of Aging and Environmental Protection. Pennsylvania becomes the first state to establish its Senior Environment Corps in law. Act 215

Fishing License Increase: House Bill 2155 (B.Smith-R-York) increases fishing and boating licenses and permits to raise over $7 million a year for the Commission. The bill also includes new forms of licenses and permits including a Lake Erie stamp, a combo Lake Erie/Trout stamp and charter boat/fishing guide permits. Act 159

Forestland Beautification: House Bill 2227 (Rubley-R-Chester) authorizing the Governor to take $500,000 from the Recycling, Solid Waste Abatement or the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund to provide monies for the Forestland Beautification Program in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Act 139

Dumping Penalty: House Bill 2029 (Cruz-D-Philadelphia) the law providing penalties for illegal dumping in Philadelphia was amended to include a penalty of six month suspension of driving privileges. Act 227

Coal & Gas Coordination: House Bill 2804 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) amends the Coal and Gas Resource Coordination Act by removing the requirement that a gas well must be located at least 330 feet from the boundary of the tract on which it is located. It also removes the section of the Act relating to exceptions to the 330 foot requirement, since exceptions won't be required. Act 171

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12/3/2004