1. Any energy information which is voluntarily reported or conveyed to the department of economic development or the Missouri department of natural resources shall be considered confidential and shall be exempt upon written request and for a specific period to be determined by mutual consent from public disclosure that would reveal information traceable to a private firm, partnership, public corporation, or individual.
2. As used in this section, the term "energy information" includes that information received in whatever form on the fuel reserves, exploration, extraction, production, refining, distribution, consumption, costs, prices, capital investments, and other matters directly related to a private firm, partnership, public corporation, or individual.
3. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any officer or employee of the department of natural resources or the department of economic development who, in violation of the provisions of this section, divulges any information considered confidential under this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, and such divulgence shall be grounds for the summary dismissal of such officer or employee, other provisions of law notwithstanding.