Lansing, MI - Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order declaring an energy emergency in the Upper Peninsula. Severe ice storms closed the Mackinac Bridge multiple times this week, including for a record 30-hour time period, preventing commercial fuel trucks from crossing the Straits of Mackinac. She signed the order last night.
Whitmer says her top priority is – quote – “ensuring that first responders have the fuel they need to continue recovery efforts and Michigan families have ample energy to heat their homes during this cold weather” – end quote.
The executive order suspends hours-of-service and all state and local seasonal load, size, and weight restrictions for commercial trucks transporting gasoline, distillate, propane, and other necessary equipment in the Upper Peninsula.
The state of energy emergency applies to 14 counties of the Upper Peninsula, including: Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Luce, Schoolcraft, Baraga, Alger, Iron, Gogebic, Menominee, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, and Houghton. Mackinac County was included under a previous executive order.
Executive Order 2025-dash-5 took effect immediately on Thursday, April 3, and remains in effect through Thursday, April 10.
