Fischbach, Minnesota Republicans Urge Walz to Allow Red Dye Diesel on Highways

(KNSI) — Seventh District Republican Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach led Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation in sending a letter to Governor Tim Walz, asking him to align the state with President Donald Trump’s executive order on red dye diesel.

The order authorizes highway use of the untaxed, lower-cost fuel, which is normally limited to off-road use.

The letter says the order would cut the cost of filling a standard tank by roughly $60. It calls on Walz to reconsider and help lower fuel costs for truckers, farmers and drivers, especially during harvest season.

The request is not only coming from Republicans in Washington. DFL state senators Aric Putnam of St. Cloud and Rob Kupec, along with Republican Representative Paul Anderson, have made similar requests of the governor. Walz has not responded.

The letter notes that North Dakota says it will not enforce fuel checks or penalize drivers who use red dye diesel on highways. It says Minnesota’s decision not to follow suit forces local haulers to buy higher-priced clear diesel, which it argues drives up transportation costs that get passed on to grocery shoppers.

“Our farmers are in the field working around the clock to feed and fuel our country,” Fischbach says in a statement. She accuses the Walz administration of threatening farmers with penalties for using the lower-cost fuel.

Fischbach says she will keep pushing for energy affordability measures.

Governor Walz’s office has not responded.

Read the letter here.

___