Supply Star Act (S. 3396) Legislative Summary

On May 24, 2010, the Supply Star Act (S. 3396) was introduced in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Committee Chairman, and Alliance Honorary Vice-Chair, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Alliance Honorary Chair Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). The bill would seek to improve the energy and water efficiency of the supply chain, the system of processes and materials that brings a product from beginning to its end.

Section-by-Section Summary

Section 1. Short Title: the “Supply Star Act of 2010”

Section 2. Supply Star: Would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPAct ’05) by adding a section 324B, as follows:
(a) In General: Would create within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) a program known as “Supply Star,” which would identify and promote practices, companies and products that conserve energy, water and other resources through highly efficient supply chains.

(b) Coordination: Would require DOE to consult with other appropriate agencies and to work with the existing Energy Star program.

(c) Duties: Would require that the Supply Star program:

• Identify and promote practices, companies and products that conserve energy, water and other resources through highly efficient supply chains
• Collect and disseminate data on the energy consumption of supply chains
• Develop metrics, processes and tools for measuring supply chain energy use
• Develop guidance for improving supply chain efficiency
• Harmonize approaches toward measuring supply chain efficiency among domestic and international organizations
• Share best practices with industry, including small businesses, and provide them with opportunities to benchmark their supply chain efficiency

(d) Evaluation: Would require that DOE consider the entire life cycle of a product when evaluating its supply chain efficiency, including its production, transport, packaging, use, and disposal.

(e) Grants and Incentives: Would permit DOE to distribute funds to entities for:

• The study of supply chain energy resource efficiency
• Demonstrating reductions in the energy resource consumption of products through improvements in supply chain efficiency

(f) Training: Would require DOE to use funds to support training programs on supply chain energy efficiency improvement.

(g) Authorization of Appropriations: Would authorize to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.