ST. PAUL – Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, and House Republicans are thanking Gov. Mark Dayton for taking action to keep propane supplies moving to the point of demand for home heating and grain drying this harvest season.
Anderson and other members of the GOP Rural Caucus on Wednesday co-signed a letter to Dayton, requesting that he issue an executive order temporarily waiving hours of service regulations for transporters of propane and anhydrous ammonia. The governor issued a similar order in 2013, when late-maturing crops and other factors teamed to choke the propane supply chain that fall.
The governor issued Emergency Executive Order 17-11 late Wednesday evening which eases regulations on hours of service “for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in emergency relief efforts.” According to a press release from the governor’s office, the Executive Order “will help ensure farmers have access to the diesel fuel and propane they need to dry late-harvested crops.”
“Our cool, wet harvest season is putting a crunch on propane delivery – for both farmers who need to dry their crops and families who use propane to heat their homes,” said Anderson, who chairs the House Agriculture Policy Committee. “This executive order will be helpful in ensuring people have access to propane this fall and credit goes to all those who worked so hard to get this done.”
This year’s situation does not appear as dire as 2013’s, but several reports have indicated shortages in surrounding states are causing dealers to turn to Minnesota for supplies, straining our state’s resources. Haulers have had to wait in line for up to six hours to load their trucks, time which cuts into their allotted hours of service behind the wheel.
The Executive Order remains in effect for 30 days, or “until the commercial motor carrier or drivers ceases direct assistance in providing energy relief, whichever occurs first,” and may be extended in the future.
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