LANSING, Mich. (WBUP/WJMN) — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a statewide energy emergency, temporarily allowing certain farm and logging vehicles to use dyed diesel fuel on public roads as producers grapple with soaring fuel costs during the height of harvest season.
According to ABC affiliate WZZM, Whitmer signed Executive Order 2026-15 Monday morning, suspending portions of the Michigan Motor Fuel Tax Act that normally prohibit the use of dyed diesel in vehicles operating on public roads.
Dyed diesel is typically reserved for off-road equipment such as tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural or forestry machinery. Under the emergency order, vehicles displaying valid farm or wood harvester license or registration plates may legally use the fuel on public roadways.
The order took effect immediately and will remain in place until the governor determines the emergency has ended, or no later than December 31, 2026.
According to the governor’s office, the order does not suspend any other taxes, penalties, or requirements under the state’s fuel tax laws, and it applies only to dyed diesel fuel.
Whitmer said the move is intended to provide immediate relief to farmers and logging operations facing mounting financial pressures from record diesel prices.
“We need to keep work moving and reduce pressure on the people who keep our state’s ag economy running,” Whitmer said in a statement.
Michigan’s average diesel price was reported at roughly $6.49 per gallon Monday, adding significant costs for industries that rely heavily on fuel-intensive equipment and transportation.
The executive order cites ongoing disruptions in global oil markets related to the war in Iran, as well as sharp increases in fuel prices nationwide. The governor’s office said farmers and loggers are facing unprecedented financial strain due to high diesel costs, volatile markets, and tight profit margins.
Because many agricultural and forestry operations already maintain supplies of dyed diesel for off-road equipment, state officials say allowing eligible road vehicles to use that fuel could provide immediate cost savings.
Whitmer also criticized federal policymakers in announcing the order, arguing that national decisions related to the conflict have contributed to rising energy prices.
The order follows an earlier action taken in April when Whitmer issued Executive Order 2026-4, temporarily suspending certain gasoline vapor pressure requirements in an effort to help lower fuel costs for consumers.
Officials say anyone who willfully interferes with the implementation of the energy emergency order could face misdemeanor charges.
The emergency declaration comes as Michigan farmers and loggers work through one of their busiest seasons of the year while managing some of the highest fuel costs in recent memory.
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