Whitmer Declares Michigan Energy Emergency, Lets Farm and Logging Vehicles Use Dyed Diesel Through Year-End
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2026-15 on October 12, declaring a statewide energy emergency and allowing vehicles with farm or wood-harvester license plates to use tax-free dyed diesel on Michigan highways effective immediately through December 31, 2026. The order waives the 52-cent-per-gallon state diesel tax without interest or penalties for eligible agricultural and logging vehicles; it does not apply to commercial for-hire plated vehicles.
"Michigan's farmers and loggers face unprecedented financial strain from record-high diesel prices, tight margins, and significant market volatility — costs that sometimes pass to consumers," Whitmer wrote in the order. "These industries already purchase and maintain substantial supplies of dyed diesel for off-road equipment. Therefore, granting eligible highway-licensed vehicles temporary access to this fuel would provide immediate relief."
Diesel prices have climbed to record levels — reported at about $6.20 a gallon, up more than 70% this year alone — while dyed diesel prices have risen over 72% in 10 months. Earlier this month, Michigan Farm Bureau led a letter cosigned by 19 other state commodity and agribusiness organizations asking Whitmer for 90 days of temporary relief, citing a 2005 precedent after Hurricane Katrina. More than a dozen states have now announced diesel cost-relief measures this fall; GSM has previously reported dyed-diesel waivers in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri and a federal diesel tax-relief executive order.
The order also suspends provisions of the Motor Fuel Tax Act that prohibit on-road use of dyed diesel by these vehicles; the administration cited supply-chain disruptions stemming from the war in Iran among the pressures behind the emergency.
(Sources: Michigan Farm News; Brownfield Ag News)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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