AN ACT to (1) PROVIDE FOR AUTOMATIC REVIEW OF Mining and Energy Commission RULES BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; (2) EXEMPT THE MINING AND ENERGY COMMISSION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION, AND THE COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH FROM PREPARING FISCAL NOTES FOR RULES THAT PERTAIN TO THE MANAGEMENT OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT; (3) Direct the mining and energy commission to study development of a comprehensive environmental permit for oil and gas exploration and development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments; (4) require the mining and energy commission and the department of revenue to study establishment of a tax for the severance of energy minerals from the soil or water of the state in an amount sufficient to cover all costs associated with administration of a modern regulatory program for the management of OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES using the processes of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments for that purpose, including creation of an emergency Fund to protect and preserve the state's natural resources, cultural heritage, and quality of life; (5) DIRECT THE MINING AND ENERGY COMMISSION TO STUDY MATTERS RELATED TO REGISTRATION OF LANDMEN; (6) modify appointments to the mining and energy commission; (7) modify provisions in the oil and gas conservation act concerning the mining and energy commission's authority to set "allowables"; (8) clarify bonding requirements associated with oil and gas activities; (9) assign future revenue from energy exploration, development, and production of energy resources in order to protect and preserve the state's natural resources, cultural heritage, and quality of life; (10) encourage THE GOVERNOR TO Develop THE Regional Interstate Offshore Energy Policy Compact; (11) aMEND THE ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1975 AND THE ENERGY POLICY COUNCIL; and (12) direct the medical care commission to adopt rules authorizing facilities licensed by the department of health and human services to use compressed natural gas as an emergency fuel.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I.  RULES: AUTOMATIC REVIEW; FISCAL NOTE REQUIREMENTS; NO PERMIT ISSUANCE UNTIL RULES BECOME EFFECTIVE AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TAKES AFFIRMATIVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO ALLOW ISSUANCE
SECTION 1.(a)  All rules required to be adopted pursuant to Section 2(m) of S.L. 2012‑143 shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B‑21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B‑21.3(b2).
SECTION 1.(b)  The Mining and Energy Commission, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Commission for Public Health are exempt from the provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes that require the preparation of fiscal notes for any rule proposed for the creation of a modern regulatory program for the management of oil and gas exploration and development activities in the State, including the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for that purpose.
SECTION 1.(c)  As provided in Section 3(d) of S.L. 2012‑143, the issuance of permits for oil and gas exploration and development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments in the State pursuant to G.S. 113‑395, or any other provision of law, shall be prohibited in order to allow the Mining and Energy Commission sufficient time for development of a modern regulatory program for the management of oil and gas exploration and development in the State and the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments for that purpose, and for adoption of appropriate environmental standards applicable to these activities. No agency of the State, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Environmental Management Commission, the Commission for Public Health, or the Mining and Energy Commission, shall issue a permit for oil or gas exploration or development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments until (i) all rules required to be adopted by the Mining and Energy Commission, the Environmental Management Commission, and the Commission for Public Health pursuant to S.L. 2012‑143 have become effective and (ii) the General Assembly takes affirmative legislative action, including repeal of Section 3(d) of S.L. 2012‑143, to allow the issuance of such permits.

PART II.  STUDIES: COORDINATED PERMIT PROCESS, SEVERANCE TAXES, AND LANDMEN REGISTRY
SECTION 2.(a)  The Mining and Energy Commission, with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, shall study development of a coordinated permitting program for oil and gas exploration and development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments in order that a single comprehensive environmental permit may be issued to a permit applicant to govern the applicant's exploration and development activities at a site, including, but not limited to, regulation of the following matters: well construction, siting, and closure requirements; hydraulic fracturing treatments, including subsurface injection of fluids for that purpose; water quality, including stormwater control, and management of water resources; management of waste; and regulation of air emissions. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall seek any approvals necessary from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for a coordinated permitting program to allow issuance of a single comprehensive environmental permit for oil and gas exploration and development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments. The Mining and Energy Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Environmental Review Commission and the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy on or before March 1, 2014.
SECTION 2.(b)  The Mining and Energy Commission and the Department of Revenue, with the assistance of the Department of Commerce and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, shall study an appropriate rate of severance tax that should be imposed in association with oil and gas exploration and development activities using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments in the State. In conducting the study, the Commission and the Department shall examine information compiled by the Department of Commerce in Section 5 of the North Carolina Oil and Gas Study issued in April 2012 pursuant to S.L. 2011‑276 on potential economic impacts that could be expected if drilling for oil or natural gas were to take place in the State, which included data on severance taxes established in other states. In addition, the Commission and the Department shall consider information compiled pursuant to the ongoing study of appropriate levels of funding and potential sources for that funding required by Section 2(j) of S.L. 2012‑143, as amended by Section 12(a) of S.L. 2012‑201, which requires examination of (i) funding required to address expected impacts to infrastructure throughout the State and other impacts that may be experienced by local governments in areas where drilling activities may occur and (ii) funding needed to cover any costs to the State for administering an oil and gas regulatory program, including remediation and reclamation of drilling sites when necessary due to abandonment or insolvency of an oil or gas operator or other responsible party. The Commission and the Department shall also formulate recommendations for appropriate levels of funding that should be maintained to address emergency events associated with oil and gas exploration, including sufficient funding for emergency preparation, emergency response, emergency environmental protection, or mitigation associated with a release of liquid hydrocarbons or associated fluids directly related to onshore energy exploration, development, production, or transmission. Any recommendation for emergency funding for this purpose shall provide that the funds shall be used only upon a determination that sufficient funds for corrective action or emergency response cannot be obtained from other sources without incurring a delay that would significantly increase the threat to life or risk of damage to the environment and provide that the State shall pursue recovery of all costs incurred by the State or local governments for any corrective action or emergency response, including attorneys' fees and other expenses of bringing the cost recovery action from the responsible party or parties. The Mining and Energy Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Environmental Review Commission on or before April 1, 2014.
SECTION 2.(c)  The Mining and Energy Commission, with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, shall study issues related to establishment and implementation of the registration requirements for landmen under G.S. 113‑425. At a minimum, the study shall include a review of the number of individuals currently registered in North Carolina; other states' requirements with respect to registration of landmen; and regulations governing landmen operating in other industries in North Carolina and other states. The Commission and the Department shall receive input from the oil and gas industry and other stakeholders on the current registry, its effectiveness, and whether modifications or discontinuance is advisable. The Mining and Energy Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Environmental Review Commission and the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy on or before April 1, 2015.

PART III.  MINING AND ENERGY COMMISSION APPOINTMENT MODIFICATIONS
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 143B‑293.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143B‑293.2.  North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission – members; selection; removal; compensation; quorum; services.
(a)	Members Selection. – The North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission shall consist of 15 members appointed as follows:
(1)	The Chair of the North Carolina State University Minerals Research Laboratory Advisory Committee, or the Chair's designee, ex officio.
(2)	The State Geologist, or other designee of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.	(3a)	One appointed by the Governor, at large.
(4)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is a member of a nongovernmental conservation interest.
(5)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives who, at the time of initial appointment, is an elected official of a municipal government located in a region of North Carolina that has oil and gas potential. A person serving in this seat may complete a term on the Commission even if the person is no longer serving as an elected official of a municipal government but may not be reappointed to a subsequent term.
(6)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is a representative of the mining industry.
(7)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be a geologist with experience in oil and gas exploration and development.
(8)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate who is a member of a nongovernmental conservation interest.
(9)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate who, at the time of initial appointment, is a member of a county board of commissioners of a county located in a region of North Carolina that has oil and gas potential. A person serving in this seat may complete a term on the Commission even if the person is no longer serving as county commissioner but may not be reappointed to a subsequent term.
(10)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate who is a representative of the mining industry.
(11)	One appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate who shall be an engineer with experience in oil and gas exploration and development.
(12)	One appointed by the Governor who shall be a representative of a publicly traded natural gas company.
(13)	One appointed by the Governor who shall be a licensed attorney with experience in legal matters associated with oil and gas exploration and development.
(14)	One appointed by the Governor who is a member of the Environmental Management Commission.
(15)	One appointed by the Governor who is a member of the Commission for Public Health.
…
(h)	Office May Be Held Concurrently With Others. – Membership on the Mining and Energy Commission is hereby declared to be an office that may be held concurrently with other elective or appointive offices in addition to the maximum number of offices permitted to be held by one person under G.S. 128‑1.1.
…."
SECTION 3.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law, however, members serving pursuant to subdivisions (14) and (15) of G.S. 143B‑293.2(a) as of the effective date of this act shall be allowed to serve the remainder of their unexpired term.

PART IV.  AMEND ALLOWABLES
SECTION 4.  G.S. 113‑394 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑394.  Limitations on production; allocating and prorating "allowables."
(a)	The Commission may limit the total amount of oil, including condensate, which may be produced in the State by fixing an amount which shall be designated "allowable" for the State. The Commission may then allocate or distribute the "allowable" for the State among the pools on a reasonable basis and in such manner as to avoid undue discrimination, and so that waste will be prevented. In allocating the "allowable" for the State, and in fixing "allowables" for pools producing oil or hydrocarbons forming condensate, or both oil and such hydrocarbons, the Commission may take into account the producing conditions and other relevant facts with respect to such pools, including the separate needs for oil, gas and condensate, and may formulate rules setting forth standards or a program for the distribution of the "allowable" for the State, and distribute the "allowable" for the State in accordance with such standards or program, and where conditions in one pool or area are substantially similar to those in another pool or area, then the same standards or programs shall be applied to such pools and areas so that as far as practicable a uniform program will be followed; provided, however, the Commission shall allow the production of a sufficient amount of natural gas from any pool to supply adequately the reasonable market demand for such gas for light and fuel purposes if such production can be obtained without waste, and the condensate "allowable" for such pool shall not be less than the total amount of condensate produced or obtained in connection with the production of the gas "allowable" for light and fuel purposes, and provided further that, if the amount allocated to pool as its share of the "allowable" for the State is in excess of the amount which the pool should produce to prevent waste, then the Commission shall fix the "allowable" for the pool so that waste will be prevented.
	In allocating "allowables" to pools, the Commission shall not be bound by nominations or desires of purchasers to purchase oil from particular fields or areas, and the Commission shall allocate the "allowable" for the State in such manner as will prevent undue discrimination against any pool or area in favor of another or others which would result from selective buying or nominating by purchasers of oil, as such term "selective buying or nominating" is understood in the oil business.
(c)	Whenever the Commission limits the total amount of oil or gas which may be produced in any pool in this State to an amount less than that which the pool could produce if no restrictions were imposed (which limitation may be imposed either incidental to, or without, a limitation of the total amount of oil or gas which may be produced in the State), the Commission shall prorate or distribute the "allowable" production among the producers in the pool on a reasonable basis, and so that each producer will have the opportunity to produce or receive his just and equitable share, as such share is set forth in subsection G.S. 113‑392(d), subject to the reasonable necessities for the prevention of waste.
(d)	Whenever the Commission limits the total amount of gas which may be produced from a pool, the Commission shall then allocate or distribute the allowable production among the developed areas in the pool on a reasonable basis, so that each producer will have the opportunity to produce his just and equitable share, as such share is set forth in subsection G.S. 113‑392(d), whether the restriction for the pool as a whole is accomplished by order or by the automatic operation of the prohibitory provisions of this law. As far as applicable, the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be followed in allocating any "allowable" of gas for the State.
(e)	After the effective date of any rule or order of the Commission fixing the "allowable" production of oil or gas, or both, or condensate, no person shall produce from any well, lease, or property more than the "allowable" production which is fixed, nor shall such amount be produced in a different manner than that which may be authorized."

PART V.  CLARIFY BONDING REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 5.(a)  G.S. 113‑378 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑378.  Persons drilling for oil or gas to register and furnish bond.
Any person, firm or corporation before making any drilling exploration in this State for oil or natural gas shall register with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. To provide for such registration, the drilling operator must furnish the name and address of such person, firm or corporation, and the location of the proposed drilling operations, and file with the Department a bond running to the State of North Carolina in an amount totaling the sum of (i) five thousand dollars ($5,000) plus (ii) one dollar ($1.00) per linear foot proposed to be drilled for the well. Any well opened by the drilling operator shall be plugged upon abandonment in accordance with the rules of the Department."
SECTION 5.(b)  G.S. 113‑391(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(a)	The Mining and Energy Commission, created by G.S. 143B‑293.1, in conjunction with rule‑making authority specifically reserved to the Environmental Management Commission under subsection (a3) of this section, shall establish a modern regulatory program for the management of oil and gas exploration and development in the State and the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing treatments for that purpose. The program shall be designed to protect public health and safety; protect public and private property; protect and conserve the State's air, water, and other natural resources; promote economic development and expand employment opportunities; and provide for the productive and efficient development of the State's oil and gas resources. To establish the program, the Commission shall adopt rules for all of the following purposes:
…
(13a)	Criteria to set the amount of a bond required pursuant to G.S. 113‑421(a3), including, at a minimum, the number of wells proposed at a site, the pre‑drilling condition of the property, the amount of acreage that would be impacted by the proposed oil and gas activities, and other factors designed to enable establishment of bonds on a site‑by‑site basis."
SECTION 5.(c)  G.S. 113‑421(a3) reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑421.  Presumptive liability for water contamination; compensation for other damages; responsibility for reclamation.
…
(a3)	Reclamation of Surface Property Required. – An oil or gas developer or operator shall reclaim all surface areas affected by its operations no later than two years following completion of the operations. If the developer or operator is not the surface owner of the property, prior to commencement of activities on the property, the oil or gas developer or operator shall provide a bond running to the surface owner sufficient to cover reclamation of the surface owner's property. Upon registration with the Department pursuant to G.S. 113‑378, a developer shall request that the Mining and Energy Commission set the amount of the bond required by this subsection. As part of its request, the developer shall provide supporting documentation, including information about the proposed oil and gas activities to be conducted, the site on which they are to occur, and any additional information required by the Commission. The Commission shall set the amount of the bond in accordance with the criteria adopted by the Commission pursuant to G.S. 113‑391(a)(13a) and notify the developer and surface owner of the amount within 30 days of setting the amount of a bond. A surface owner or developer may appeal the amount of a bond set pursuant to this subsection to the Commission within 60 days after receipt of notice from the Commission of the amount required. After evaluation of the appeal and issuance of written findings, the Commission may order that the amount of the bond be modified. Parties aggrieved by a decision of the Commission pursuant to this subsection may appeal the decision as provided under Article 4 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes within 30 days of the date of the decision."

PART VI.  REVENUE FROM OFFSHORE ENERGY PRODUCTION
SECTION 6.  Chapter 113B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 3.
"Revenues From Offshore Energy Production.
"§ 113B‑30.  Allocation of revenues from offshore energy production; creation of Offshore Energy Management Fund.
(a)	Any revenues and royalties paid to the State as a result of offshore leasing, exploration, development, and production of all energy resources shall be deposited in the Offshore Emergency Fund until the Fund reaches two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000). The Offshore Energy Management Fund is an interest‑bearing special revenue fund to be established within the State treasury. This Fund shall be used only for emergency preparation, emergency response, emergency environmental protection, or mitigation associated with a release of liquid hydrocarbons or associated fluids directly related to offshore energy exploration, development, production, or transmission. Once the Fund balance reaches the amount of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000), the funds shall be used as provided in subsection (b) of this section. If monies are withdrawn from this Fund to carry out the provisions in this section, all revenues and royalties paid to the State as a result of offshore leasing, exploration, development, and production of all energy resources shall be deposited in the Fund until a total of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is reestablished. Once the Fund balance reaches the amount of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000), the funds shall be used as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b)	Any revenues and royalties paid to the State as a result of offshore leasing, exploration, development, and production of all energy resources in excess of the amount needed to establish the Fund created in subsection (a) of this section are annually appropriated and shall be used for the following purposes:
(1)	Seventy‑five percent (75%) of such revenues and royalties shall be credited to the General Fund.
(2)	Five percent (5%) of such revenues and royalties shall be credited to the North Carolina Highway Trust Fund established under G.S. 136‑176.
(3)	Five percent (5%) of such revenues and royalties shall be transferred to the Community Colleges System Office to establish and manage a fund for curriculum development and implementation as well as financial assistance for students attending community college to receive vocational training through this curriculum in fields directly related to energy exploration and development and related energy infrastructure.
(4)	Five percent (5%) of such revenues and royalties shall be transferred to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina System to establish and manage research and development funds for programs directly related to energy research and development.
(5)	Five percent (5%) of such revenues and royalties shall be transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for conservation, protection, and mitigation, including, but not limited to, beach and inlet management projects, dredging operations, channel navigation and maintenance, public beach and water access, water quality management, and habitat restoration.
(6)	Three percent (3%) of such revenues and royalties shall be transferred to the State Ports Authority for expansion and maintenance of State Port infrastructure associated with energy‑related commerce.
(7)	Two percent (2%) of such revenues and royalties shall be transferred to the Department of Commerce for recruitment of energy‑related industries to the State."

PART VII.  REGIONAL INTERSTATE OFFSHORE ENERGY POLICY COMPACT
SECTION 7.(a)  Development of Regional Interstate Offshore Energy Policy Compact. – The Governor is strongly encouraged to commence negotiations on the development of a regional energy compact with the governors of South Carolina and Virginia in order to develop a unified regional strategy for the exploration, development, and production of all commercially viable federal and state offshore energy resources within the three‑state region. The Governor shall develop recommendations for the General Assembly to consider for the development of a statutory regional compact, and these recommendations shall reflect the collective agreement of all three governors in the three‑state region in order to provide common language for consideration by each state's General Assembly. During the development of these compact recommendations, the Governor or the Governor's designee is authorized to work directly with each of the three states' Congressional delegations, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate federal agencies on behalf of the State of North Carolina to develop appropriate strategies to be considered in the development of the three‑state compact for increasing domestic energy exploration, development, and production within each state in the three‑state region and their adjacent state and federal waters. The compact negotiations and recommendations shall address at least all of the following:
(1)	Ensure a timely review and consideration of permits and proposals at both the state and federal level for both state and federal waters adjacent to each state in the three‑state region for seismic and other marine geophysical exploration to identify and quantify natural gas and related hydrocarbon resources along the continental margin.
(2)	Amend the 2012 to 2017 Five Year Leasing Plan of the United States Department of the Interior to include leasing federal waters adjacent to the State and the three‑state region for the exploration, quantification, and development of natural gas and related hydrocarbon energy resources.
(3)	Advocate proactively with each state's Congressional delegation and appropriate federal agencies to ensure direct sharing of royalties and revenues related to energy leasing, exploration, development, and production of all offshore energy resources in federal waters adjacent to the State and the three‑state region.
(4)	Request the United States Department of the Interior to reinstate the federal Offshore Policy Committee with new members and new alternate members to be nominated by the governor of the state represented on the Offshore Policy Committee and appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, six of whom are to be one member and one alternate member each from North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina.
(5)	Request the United States Department of the Interior to immediately move forward with permitting geological and geophysical data acquisition activities associated with oil and gas exploration in the Mid‑ and South Atlantic Planning Areas of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf immediately as outlined in Alternative A of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement entitled "Atlantic OCS Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities" published in 2012.
SECTION 7.(b)  No later than three months after the effective date of this act, and at least every three months thereafter, the Governor or the Governor's designee shall report to the General Assembly on the progress of the Governor and others in complying with the requirements under this section, to include providing copies of correspondence and other relevant materials to or from the Office of the Governor when the correspondence or materials pertain to the subject under this section or to any requirement under this section. The Governor shall report the Governor's final recommendations for the three‑state energy compact to the Joint Energy Oversight Committee no later than March 1, 2014.
SECTION 7.(c)  In addition to the provisions in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of this act, the Governor is encouraged to join the Governors of Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia and any others who may sign on to the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition announced on May 3, 2011, to promote a constructive dialogue among the coastal state governors and the federal government on offshore energy issues important to the future of North Carolina and the United States. The Governor is authorized to expend funds related to membership in the Coalition.
SECTION 7.(d)  The Governor is also encouraged to write letters to the North Carolina Congressional delegation, the governors of South Carolina and Virginia, the legislative bodies of South Carolina and Virginia, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, and the President of the United States urging their support of the recommendations set forth in subdivisions (1) through (5) of Section 7(a) of this act.
SECTION 7.(e)  Upon ratification, the Secretary of State shall furnish certified copies of this act to each member of the North Carolina Congressional delegation, the governors of South Carolina and Virginia, the legislative bodies of South Carolina and Virginia, the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, and the President of the United States.

PART VIII.  ENERGY POLICY ACT AND ENERGY POLICY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS
SECTION 8.(a)  G.S. 113B‑1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑1.  Legislative findings and purpose.
Upon investigation the General Assembly hereby finds that:
(1)	Energy is essential to the health, safety and welfare of the people of this State and to the workings of the State economy.
	
	It is in the State's best interest to support the development of a reliable and adequate supply of energy for North Carolina that is secure, stable, and predictable in order to facilitate economic growth, job creation, and expansion of business and industry opportunities.
(3a)	It is in the State's best interest to support the exploration, development, and production of domestic energy supplies, preferably from the resources within the State or region and most certainly from within the country.
(3b)	It is the duty of State government to protect and preserve the State's natural resources, cultural heritage, and quality of life and, above all, the public health and safety of its residents during the exploration, development, and production of domestic energy resources.(4)	The State must provide the basis for development of a long‑range unified energy policy to encompass comprehensive energy resource planning and efficient management of existing energy resources in relation to economic growth, to effectively meet an energy crisis, to encourage development of alternative sources of energy that are capable of achieving a positive benefit‑to‑cost ratio, and to ensure efficient utilization of energy resources in a manner consistent with assuring a reliable and adequate supply of energy for North Carolina, including active support and collaboration with the federal government to ensure access to the nation's energy resources located on the outer continental shelf directly adjacent to the State's coastal waters.
(5)	It is the expressed intent of this Chapter to provide for development of such a unified domestic energy policy for the State of North Carolina as part of a nationwide effort for increased domestic energy production in the interest of national security and economic growth and stability."
SECTION 8.(b)  G.S. 113B‑2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑2.  Creation of Energy Policy Council; purpose of Council.
(a)	The Energy Policy Council is created to advise and make recommendations on increasing domestic energy exploration, development, and production within the State and region to promote economic growth and job creation to the Governor and the General Assembly. The Energy Policy Council shall be located within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
(b)	Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the powers, duties and functions of the Energy Policy Council shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.(c)	The Energy Policy Council shall serve as the central energy policy planning body of the State and shall communicate and cooperate with federal, State, regional and local bodies and agencies to the end of effecting a coordinated energy policy."
SECTION 8.(c)  G.S. 113B‑3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑3.  Composition of Council; appointments; terms of members; qualifications.
(a)	The Energy Policy Council shall consist of 13 members to be appointed as follows:
		
(2a)	The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.
(2b)	The Secretary of Commerce.
(2c)	The Lieutenant Governor.
(3)	Ten public members who are citizens of the State of North Carolina and who are appointed in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.
(b)	Appointments to the Energy Policy Council shall be made by October 1, 2013. The terms of office of members of the Council are three years. The terms of members appointed under subdivisions (1), (4), and (6) of subsection (c) of this section shall expire on June 30 of years evenly divisible by three. The terms of members appointed under subdivisions (2), (5), (8), and (10) of subsection (c) of this section shall expire on June 30 of years that precede by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three. The terms of members appointed under subdivisions (3), (7), (11), and (12) of subsection (c) of this section shall expire on June 30 of years that follow by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three. Appointments made by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be allowed when the General Assembly is not in session.
(c)	The public members of the Energy Policy Council shall have the qualifications and shall be appointed as follows:
	(2)	One member shall have experience in natural gas and associated hydrocarbon exploration, development, and production, to be appointed by the Governor.
	
(3)	One member shall be a representative of an investor‑owned natural gas public utility, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(4)	One member shall be an energy economist or a person with experience in the financing or business development of an energy‑related business, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(5)	One member shall have experience in energy policy, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.(6)	One member shall be an industrial energy consumer, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(7)	One member shall be knowledgeable of alternative and renewable sources of energy, to be appointed by the Governor.(8)	One member shall have experience in trucking, rail, or shipping transportation, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(9)	Repealed by Session Laws 2009‑446, s. 4, effective August 7, 2009.
(10)	One member shall have experience in energy research and development, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.(11)	One member shall have experience in environmental management, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(12)	One member shall be a representative of an investor‑owned electric public utility, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate."
SECTION 8.(d)  G.S. 113B‑4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑4.  Chairman of Council; replacement; reimbursement of members.
(a)	The Lieutenant Governor shall serve as chair of the Council.
(b)	In case of a vacancy in the membership on the Energy Policy Council prior to the expiration of a member's term, a successor shall be appointed within 30 days of such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term by the appropriate official pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 113B‑3.
(c)	Members of the Energy Policy Council shall be reimbursed for their services pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 138‑5."
SECTION 8.(e)  G.S. 113B‑6 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑6.  General duties and responsibilities.
The goal of the Energy Policy Council is to identify and utilize all domestic energy resources in order to ensure a secure, stable, and predictable energy supply and to protect the economy of the State, promote job creation, and expand business and industry opportunities while ensuring the protection and preservation of the State's natural resources, cultural heritage, and quality of life. The Energy Policy Council may delegate its duties where appropriate to the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Council shall provide oversight and approval to the duties delegated to the Division. The Energy Policy Council shall have the following general duties and responsibilities:
(1)	To develop and recommend to the Governor and the General Assembly a comprehensive  State energy policy that addresses requirements in the short term (10 years), in the midterm (25 years), and in the long term (50 years) to achieve maximum effective management and use of present and future sources of energy, such policy to include but not be limited to energy efficiency, renewable and alternative sources of energy, research and development into alternative energy technologies, and improvements to the State's energy infrastructure and energy economy, including smart grid and domestic energy resources that shall include at least natural gas, coal, hydroelectric power, solar, wind, nuclear energy, and biomass. For utilities regulated under Chapter 62 of the General Statutes, the policy developed under this subdivision shall be consistent with the analysis and plan developed under G.S. 62‑110.1(c).
(2)	To conduct an ongoing assessment of the opportunities and constraints presented by various uses of all forms of energy to facilitate the expansion of the domestic energy supply and to encourage the efficient use of all such energy forms in a manner consistent with State energy policy.
(3)	To continually review and coordinate all State government research, education and management programs relating to energy matters, to continually educate and inform the general public regarding such energy matters, and to actively engage in discussions with the federal government, its agencies, and its leaders to identify opportunities to increase domestic energy supply within North Carolina and its adjacent offshore waters.(4)	To recommend to the Governor and to the General Assembly needed energy legislation and rule making, and to recommend for implementation such modifications of energy policy, plans, and programs as the Council considers necessary and desirable."
SECTION 8.(f)  G.S. 113B‑7 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑7.  Energy Efficiency Program; components.
(a)	The Energy Policy Council shall prepare a recommended Energy Efficiency Program for transmittal to the Governor, the initial plan to be completed by January 30, 1976.
(b)	The Energy Efficiency Program shall be designed to assure the public health and safety of the people of North Carolina and to consider the conservation of energy through reducing wasteful, inefficient or uneconomical uses of energy resources.
(c)	The Energy Efficiency Program may include but not be limited to the following recommendations:
(1)	Recommendations to the Building Code Council for lighting, insulation, climate control systems and other building design and construction standards which increase the efficient use of energy and are economically feasible to implement;
(2)	Recommendations to the Building Code Council for per unit energy requirement allotments based upon square footage for various classes of buildings which would reduce energy consumption, yet are both technically and economically feasible and not injurious to public health and safety;
(3)	Recommendations for minimum levels of operating efficiency for all appliances whose use requires a significant amount of energy based upon both technical and economic feasibility considerations;
(4)	Recommendations for State government purchases of supplies, vehicles and equipment and such operating practices as will make possible more efficient use of energy;
(5)	Recommendations on energy conservation policies, programs and procedures for local units of government;
(6)	Any other recommendations which the Energy Policy Council considers to be a significant part of a statewide conservation effort and which include provisions for sufficient incentives to further energy conservation;
(7)	An economic and environmental impact analysis of the recommended program.
(d)	In addition to specific conservation recommendations, the Energy Efficiency Program shall contain proposals for implementation of such recommendations as can be carried out by executive order. Upon completion of a draft recommended program, the Council shall arrange for its distribution to interested parties and shall make the program available to the public and the Council further shall set a date for public hearing on said program.
(e)	Upon completion of the Energy Efficiency Program, the Council  shall transmit said program, to be known as the State Energy Efficiency Program, to the Governor for approval or disapproval. Upon approval, the Governor shall assign administrative responsibility for such implementation as can be carried out by executive order to appropriate agencies of State government, and submit to the General Assembly such proposals which require legislative action for implementation. The Governor shall have the authority to accept, administer, and enforce federal programs, program measures and permissive delegations of authority delegated to the Governor by the President of the United States, Congress, or the United States Department of Energy, on behalf of the State of North Carolina, which pertain to the conservation of energy resources.
(f)	The Governor shall transmit the approved Energy Efficiency Program to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the heads of all State agencies and shall further seek to publicize such plan and make it available to all units of local government and to the public at large.
(g)	At least every five years and whenever such changes take place as would significantly affect energy supply or demand in North Carolina, the Energy Policy Council shall review and, if necessary, revise the Energy Efficiency Program, transmitting such revised plan to the Governor pursuant to the procedures contained in subsections (e) and (f) of this section."
SECTION 8.(g)  G.S. 113B‑9 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑9.  Emergency Energy Program; components.
(a)	The Energy Policy Council shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, develop contingency and emergency plans to deal with possible shortages of energy to protect public health, safety and welfare, such plans to be compiled into an Emergency Energy Program.
(b)	If required for an update of the program provided under subsection (j) of this section:
(1)	Each electric utility and natural gas utility in the State shall prepare and submit to the Energy Policy Council a proposed emergency curtailment plan setting forth proposals for identifying priority loads or users in the event of the declaration of an energy crisis pursuant to G.S. 113B‑20, and proposals for supply allocation to such priority loads or users. Utilities regulated under Chapter 62 of the General Statutes may satisfy this requirement by submitting the General Load Reduction and System Restoration Plan that is prepared annually for the Utilities Commission.
(2)	Each major oil producer doing business in this State as determined by the Energy Policy Council shall prepare and submit to the Energy Policy Council an analysis of how any national supply curtailment pursuant to federal regulations shall affect the supply for North Carolina and how priority users will be determined and available supplies allocated to such users.
(c)	The Energy Policy Council shall encourage the preparation of joint emergency curtailment plans and analyses. If such cooperative plans and analyses are developed between two or more utilities, major producers or by an association of such companies, the joint plans or analyses may be submitted to the Energy Policy Council in lieu of information required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(d)	The Energy Policy Council shall collect from all relevant governmental agencies any existing contingency plans for dealing with sudden energy shortages or information related thereto.
(e)	The Energy Policy Council shall hold one or more public hearings, investigate and review the plans submitted pursuant to this section, and, within nine months after July 1, 1975, the Energy Policy Council shall approve and recommend to the Governor guidelines for emergency curtailment to be known as the Emergency Energy Program and to be implemented upon adoption by the Governor after the declaration of an energy crisis and pursuant to G.S. 113B‑20 and 113B‑23. Said program shall be based upon the plans presented to the Energy Policy Council, upon independent analysis and study by the Council, and upon information provided at the hearing or hearings, provided, however, that they are consistent with such federal programs and regulations as are already in effect at that time.
(f)	The Emergency Energy Program shall provide for the maintenance of essential services, the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, and the maintenance of a sound basic State economy. For utilities regulated under Chapter 62 of the General Statutes, the program shall be consistent with the General Load Reduction and System Restoration Plan that is prepared annually for the Utilities Commission. Provisions also shall be made in said program to differentiate curtailment of energy consumption by users on the basis of ability to accommodate such curtailments, and shall also include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1)	A variety of strategies and staged conservation measures of increasing intensity and authority to reduce energy use during an energy crisis, as defined in G.S. 113B‑20 and guidelines and criteria for allocation of energy sources to priority users. The program shall contain alternative conservation actions and allocation plans to reasonably meet various foreseeable shortage circumstances and to allow a choice of appropriate responses;
(2)	Evidence that the program is consistent with requirements of federal emergency energy conservation and allocation laws and regulations;
(3)	Proposals to assist such individuals, institutions, agriculture and businesses which have engaged in energy saving measures;
(g)	The Energy Policy Council shall carry out such investigations and studies as are necessary to determine if and when potentially serious shortages of energy are likely to affect North Carolina and the Council shall make recommendations to the Governor concerning administrative and legislative actions required to avert such shortages, such recommendations to be included as a section of the Emergency Energy Program.
(h)	In addition to the above information and recommendations, the program shall contain proposals for implementation of such recommendations which include procedures, rules and regulations and agency administrative responsibilities for implementation, and shall further contain procedures for fair and equitable review of complaints and requests for special exemptions from emergency conservation measures or emergency allocations. Upon completion of a draft recommended plan, the Council  shall arrange for its distribution to interested parties and shall make such plan available to the public and the Council further shall set a date for public hearing on said plan.
(i)	Upon completion of the Emergency Energy Allocation Program, the Council and the Governor shall follow the procedures as outlined in G.S. 113B‑7(e) and (f).
(j)	The Council shall update the Emergency Energy Allocation Program upon finding that an update is justified. The Council shall follow the procedures for adoption pursuant to G.S. 113B‑7(e) and (f).
(k)	The Governor shall have the authority to accept, administer and enforce federal programs, program measures and permissive delegations of authority delegated to the Governor by the President of the United States, Congress, or the United States Department of Energy, on behalf of the State of North Carolina, which pertain to actions necessary to deal with an actual or impending energy shortage."
SECTION 8.(h)  G.S. 113B‑11 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑11.  Powers and authority.
(a)	The Energy Policy Council is authorized to secure directly from any officer, office, department, commission, board, bureau, institution and other agency of the State and its political subdivisions any information it deems necessary to carry out its functions; and all such officers and agencies shall cooperate with the Council and, to the extent permitted by law, furnish such information to the Council as it may request.
…
(e)	Staff support required by the Council shall be supplied by the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The Department of Commerce and the Utilities Commission are hereby authorized to make their staff available to the Council to assist in the development of a State energy policy."
SECTION 8.(i)  G.S. 113B‑12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑12.  Annual reports; contents.
(a)	Every two years the Energy Policy Council shall transmit to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Environmental Review Commission, the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy, and the chairman of the Utilities Commission a comprehensive report providing a general overview of energy conditions in the State.(b)	The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1)	An overview of statewide growth and development as they relate to future requirements for energy, including patterns of urban and metropolitan expansion, shifts in transportation modes, modifications in building types and design, and other trends and factors which, as determined by the Council, will significantly affect energy needs;
(2)	The level of statewide and multi‑county regional energy demand for a five, 10‑ and 20‑year forecast period which, in the judgment of the Council, can reasonably be met, with proposals as to possible energy supply sources;
(3)	An assessment of growth trends in energy consumption and production and an identification of potential adverse social, economic, or environmental impacts which might be imposed by continuation of the present trends, including energy costs to consumers, significant increases in air, water, and other forms of pollution, threats to public health and safety, and loss of scenic and natural areas;
(4)	An analysis of the role of energy efficiency, renewable energy, improvements to the State's energy infrastructure, and other means in meeting the State's current and projected energy demand;
(5)	Repealed by Session Laws 2009‑446, s. 9, effective August 7, 2009.
(6)	Recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly for additional administrative and legislative actions on energy matters;
(7)	A summary of the Council's activities since the last report, a description of major plans developed by  the Council, an assessment of plan implementation, and a review of Council plans and programs for the coming biennium."
SECTION 8.(j)  G.S. 113B‑21(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Upon the declaration of an energy crisis by the Governor, a Legislative Committee on Energy Crisis Management shall be created to consist of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the majority leader of the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor shall serve as chair and shall be a nonvoting ex officio member, provided, however, that the chair shall vote to break a tie."
SECTION 8.(k)  G.S. 113B‑23 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113B‑23. Administration of plans and procedures.
(a)	Upon the declaration of an energy crisis, pursuant to G.S. 113B‑20, the Energy Policy Council shall become the emergency energy coordinating body for the State and shall carry out the following duties:
(1)	Identify and determine the nature and severity of expected energy shortages;
(2)	Provide for daily communications with and gather information from significant energy producers, distributors, transporters and major consumers, as determined by the Energy Policy Council, to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this section;
(3)	Provide data, carry out continuing assessments of the crisis situation, and make recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislative Committee on Energy Crisis Management for further action.
(b)	Upon the declaration of an energy crisis, the Governor shall order the Energy Policy Council, the Utilities Commission, the Attorney General and other appropriate State and local agencies to implement and enforce the Emergency Energy Program pursuant to G.S. 113B‑9 and any emergency rules, orders or regulations approved pursuant to G.S. 113B‑22.
(c)	Upon the declaration of an energy crisis, the Governor may employ such measures and give such direction to State and local offices and agencies as may be reasonable and necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this Article and with emergency rules, orders and regulations issued pursuant to G.S. 113B‑22."
SECTION 8.(l)  G.S. 114‑4.2D reads as rewritten:
"§ 114‑4.2D.  Employment of attorney for Energy Policy Council of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Energy Efficiency Program of the Department of Commerce.
The Attorney General shall assign an attorney to work full time with the Energy Policy Council of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Energy Efficiency Program of the Department of Commerce. Such attorney shall be subject to all provisions of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes relating to the State Personnel System. Such attorney shall also perform such additional duties as may be assigned by the Attorney General."
SECTION 8.(m)  Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 31.  Energy Policy Council.
"§ 143B‑281.1.  Energy Policy Council – transfer.
The Energy Policy Council, as established by Chapter 113B of the General Statutes and other applicable laws of this State, is hereby transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources by a Type II transfer as defined in G.S. 143A‑6."
SECTION 8.(n)  Notwithstanding G.S. 113B‑3 or any other law to the contrary, the terms of all members of the Energy Policy Council serving as of the effective date of this act shall expire on the effective date of this act. Initial appointments shall be made pursuant to G.S. 113B‑3(c), as amended by Section 8(e) of this act, no later than September 1, 2013.

PART IX.  MODIFY ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS RULE TO ALLOW HOSPITALS TO USE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS AS EMERGENCY FUEL
SECTION 9.(a)  Definitions. – "Electrical Requirements Rule" means 10A NCAC 13B .6227 (Licensing of Hospitals: Electrical Requirements) for purposes of this section and its implementation.
SECTION 9.(b)  Electrical Requirements Rule. – Until the effective date of the revised permanent rule that the Medical Care Commission is required to adopt pursuant to Section 9(c) of this act, the Commission and the Department of Health and Human Services shall implement the Electrical Requirements Rule, as provided in Section 9(c) of this act.
SECTION 9.(c)  Implementation. – Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of the Electrical Requirements Rule, the Commission shall authorize facilities licensed by the Department to use bi‑fuel generators that operate with both liquid fuel and natural gas (methane) that is not stored on the site, provided that the natural gas is delivered via pipe or pipeline by a natural gas utility. These bi‑fuel generators shall be exempt from liquid fuel capacity standards established by the Commission. Bi‑fuel generators that operate on both liquid and other gaseous fuels, including propane and butane, that are stored on the site shall also be authorized, provided that the combined capacity of both liquid and gaseous fuels meet minimum on‑site fuel requirements established by the Commission. The Commission may adopt rules to require a licensed facility with a bi‑fuel generator to develop a contingency plan for liquid fuel delivery onto the site in the event of a natural gas (methane) supply disruption.
SECTION 9.(d)  Additional Rule‑Making Authority. – The Commission shall adopt a rule to replace the Electrical Requirements Rule. Notwithstanding G.S. 150B‑19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section shall be substantively identical to the provisions of Section 9(c) of this act. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in G.S. 150B‑21.3(b1) as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided by G.S. 150B‑21.3(b2).
SECTION 9.(e)  Effective Date. – Subsection (b) of this section expires when permanent rules to replace subsection (b) of this section have become effective, as provided by subsection (c) of this section.

PART X.  EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 10.  G.S. 113B‑30, enacted by Section 6 of this act, becomes effective only if authorized by the General Assembly in the Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013. The first report due pursuant to G.S. 113B‑12, as amended by Section 8(m) of this act, shall be transmitted on or before January 1, 2014. Except as otherwise provided, the remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 24th day of July, 2013.

	s/	 Louis M. Pate, Jr.
		 Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	s/	 Thom Tillis
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2013