Governor JB Pritzker declared the entire state a disaster area on Tuesday due to the rising cost of diesel fuel and took executive action aimed at reigning in prices.
Capitol News Illinois reports the move comes on the heels of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump allowing the use of tax-exempt, red-dyed diesel fuels on highways.
The red dye shows it’s exempt from highway taxes because it is intended for off-road farming equipment.
The AAA says diesel prices rose an average of 78 percent over the past year.
The rise is blamed on the Iran War and the Ukraine War as well as the weeklong shutdown of the ExxonMobil refinery in Joliet.
The governor’s executive order eliminates penalties for selling or using dyed diesel fuel through December 31st.
