(a) The commissioner of environment and conservation, with the assistance of the office of energy programs shall develop an emergency liquid fuel allocation program to be implemented by the governor in event of an energy emergency as defined in § 58-2-101.

(1) The setting aside of petroleum products will be in order to help meet emergency petroleum requirements, thereby relieving the hardship caused by such shortage to entities including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) Certain governmental entities providing emergency services;

(B) Other entities defined by rules as promulgated by the commissioner;

(C) Energy producers;

(D) Telecommunications services;

(E) Public transit;

(F) Users engaged in agricultural production, planting and harvesting; and

(G) Sanitation services.

(2) The commissioner shall promulgate rules, including emergency rules pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in chapter 5 of this title, to govern the administration of the set-aside program, including, but not limited to, the form, procedures, criteria and priority for set-aside allocation and distribution.

(3) The state set-aside program for petroleum products shall be operated to the extent that it does not preempt federal law.

(4) The state set-aside program shall terminate upon the issuance of an executive order stating that a shortage of petroleum products no longer exists.

(b) The office of energy programs shall assist with contingency plans, in coordination with power distributors in this state, to conserve electrical energy during emergency conditions. Such plans shall include the designation of priority users of electrical power.