§269-45 Gas utility companies; renewable energy; reporting requirements. (a) Each gas utility company shall submit an annual report to the public utilities commission on or before March 31 of each year that shall include but not be limited to the following information:

(1) The percentage of total feedstock used to produce natural gas, biogas, biofuels, or biofeedstocks for use in the State that is comprised of petroleum feedstock;

(2) The percentage of total feedstock used to produce natural gas, biogas, biofuels, or biofeedstocks for use by the gas utility in the State that is comprised of non-petroleum feedstock;

(3) The energy quantity in therms of natural gas, biogas, or gallons of biofuels, or biofeedstocks produced from petroleum feedstock for use by the gas utility within the State; and

(4) The energy quantity in therms of natural gas, biogas, or gallons of biofuels, or biofeedstocks produced from non-petroleum feedstock energy for use by the gas utility in the State.

Within thirty days of receipt of the report, the public utilities commission shall submit the information required by paragraphs (1) and (2) to the legislature. Due to the proprietary nature of the information required by paragraphs (3) and (4), that information shall be held in confidence by the commission; provided that any information obtained by the commission under this section, including confidential information, shall be made available to the department of business, economic development, and tourism or its authorized representative, which shall safeguard the confidentiality of that information. The department, with its own staff and other support staff with relevant expertise and experience, shall use the information obtained under this section to effectuate the purposes and intent of chapters 125C, 196, and other relevant laws. The first report required by this section shall be for the year 2011 and shall be submitted no later than March 31, 2012.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

"Department" means the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

"Feedstock" means a material that is converted, consumed, or blended to produce an end use product.

"Non-petroleum feedstock" includes but is not limited to plant and animal fats and oils, algae and algae products, other organic material, organic waste, municipal solid waste, waste water, or sewage.

"Total feedstock" means petroleum and non-petroleum feedstock combined. [L 2010, c 30, §2]