The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, may assist one or more companies in the submission of a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency for approval of kelp oil as a feedstock under the fuel pathway for the heating oil program within the Renewable Fuel Standard Program. Such assistance may include, but shall not be limited to, inquiring of the status of kelp and kelp oil for consideration as feedstock for heating oil by the Environmental Protection Agency under such program, providing any applicable or requisite information held by the department that may support such petition, and facilitating timely communications between the Environmental Protection Agency, other relevant state agencies and any such petitioning company in furtherance of any such petition.