A bill to establish a program under which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall provide grants to eligible State consortia to establish and carry out municipal sustainability certification programs, and for other purposes.

Summary: Sustainable States Act of 2010 - Establishes a program under which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shall provide grants to sustainable state consortia (partnerships consisting of local governments, states, public universities, and other municipal organizations, businesses, or nonprofit organizations) to establish and carry out municipal sustainability certification programs. Defines "municipal sustainability certification program" as a program that: (1) determines a set of state-specific benchmarks for use in evaluating sustainability; and (2) certifies a municipality as sustainable based on achievement of those benchmarks.

Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish flexible guidelines that reflect regional differences for use by such consortia in establishing such programs; (2) annually compile data from such consortia and report to Congress on municipal actions undertaken to obtain municipal sustainability certification; (3) encourage such consortia to establish certification standards beyond the guidelines established by the Administrator, adapt the administration of the program to meet regional or local needs, and plan for public-private partnership agreements that will sustain the operation of the certification program of a state beyond the term of the grant; (4) establish a national leaders program under which certified municipalities may seek additional recognition for demonstrated performance in meeting sustainability challenges; and (5) establish a website that permits interactive dialogue and collaboration among community leaders and citizens engaged in municipal sustainability certification.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sustainable States Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) local government leadership is critical in crafting and 
        implementing effective, long-term solutions to regionally 
        distinct challenges, such as--
                    (A) energy demand and supply;
                    (B) water resource management;
                    (C) waste production and management;
                    (D) pollution;
                    (E) environmental stewardship and conservation; and
                    (F) economic competitiveness, growth, and 
                development;
            (2) State-specific municipal sustainability certification 
        programs provide a framework for constructive competition among 
        the municipalities of a State that accelerates the development 
        and demonstration of effective local solutions to those 
        challenges; and
            (3) public-private partnerships are successful means of 
        sustaining the operation of municipal sustainability 
        certification programs, as evidenced by programs in the States 
        of Maryland and New Jersey.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Municipal sustainability certification program.--The 
        term ``municipal sustainability certification program'' means a 
        program established and carried out by a sustainable State 
        consortium that--
                    (A) determines a set of State-specific benchmarks 
                for use in evaluating sustainability; and
                    (B) certifies a municipality as sustainable based 
                on achievement of those benchmarks.
            (3) Sustainable state consortium.--The term ``sustainable 
        State consortium'' means a partnership consisting of local 
        governments, a State, 1 or more public universities, and any 
        other municipal organizations, businesses, or nonprofit 
        organizations selected by the consortium that is formed to 
        establish a municipal sustainability certification program.

SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR MUNICIPAL SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--There is established a program under which 
        the Administrator shall provide grants to sustainable State 
        consortia for use in establishing and carrying out municipal 
        sustainability certification programs.
            (2) Flexible guidelines for award selection.--The 
        Administrator shall establish flexible guidelines that reflect 
        regional differences for use by sustainable State consortia in 
        establishing State-specific municipal sustainability 
        certification programs.
            (3) Grants.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator shall provide 
                grants under this paragraph to sustainable State 
                consortia for use in establishing and carrying out 
                municipal sustainability certification programs.
                    (B) Eligibility.--Not more than 1 sustainable State 
                consortium per State may apply for and receive a grant 
                under this section.
                    (C) Number and term of grants.--The Administrator 
                shall determine the number and term of grants provided 
                under this section.
                    (D) Geographical distribution of grant funds.--The 
                Administrator shall provide grants under this section 
                in a manner that results in, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, a geographical balance of funds provided, 
                as determined by the Administrator.
            (4) Data and reports.--The Administrator shall annually--
                    (A) collect and compile data from sustainable State 
                consortia with respect to municipal actions undertaken 
                to obtain municipal sustainability certification; and
                    (B) submit to Congress a concise report that 
                describes, for the year covered by the report, 
                municipal actions undertaken to obtain municipal 
                sustainability certification.
            (5) State and local needs.--The Administrator shall 
        encourage sustainable State consortia--
                    (A) to establish certification standards beyond the 
                guidelines established by the Administrator;
                    (B) to otherwise adapt the administration of the 
                program established under this section to meet regional 
                or local needs; and
                    (C) to plan for public-private partnership 
                agreements that will sustain the operation of the 
                certification program of a State beyond the term of the 
                grant.
    (b) Administration.--
            (1) National leaders program.--As part of the program 
        established under this section, the Administrator shall 
        establish a national leaders program under which certified 
        municipalities may seek additional recognition for demonstrated 
        performance in meeting sustainability challenges.
            (2) Fees.--The Administrator shall not charge fees for 
        certification, training, use of program tools, or any other 
        participation in the program established under this section.
            (3) Web site.--The Administrator shall establish a Web site 
        that allows for interactive dialogue and collaboration among 
        community leaders and citizens engaged in municipal 
        sustainability certification.
    (c) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Other funding.--A sustainable State consortium or other 
        entity that receives a grant under this section may seek 
        additional foundation, nonprofit, private-sector, and other 
        sources of funding to support additional program elements and 
        municipal incentives that are in addition to the minimum 
        requirements for a grant under this section.