(1) The general assembly hereby declares that decreasing supplies of energy resources and the increasing cost thereof is causing severe financial burdens and constitutes a threat to the health and welfare of the citizens of this state and that it is in the public interest that the development of alternative sources of energy proceed expeditiously to avert energy shortages and threats to the public health and welfare.(2) To encourage the use and development by municipalities of alternate energy resources in the form of unconventional gas supplies for the use of the inhabitants of the municipalities of this state and for all citizens as alternate fuels for use by municipal utilities and others, the powers of municipalities are hereby expanded to authorize the formation of authorities for the purpose of financing municipal operations for the exploration, development, and production of unconventional gas, the use thereof for the purposes of municipal utilities, and the marketing and sale thereof to others.L. 80: Entire part added, p. 658, § 1, effective July 1.