Texas Governor Declares State of Emergency Over Diesel Fuel Shortage
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a 30-day state of disaster on Monday over soaring diesel prices and an escalating fuel shortage.
- The state of emergency aims to provide financial relief amid a global diesel squeeze driven by tightened global oil supplies and ongoing conflicts abroad, including disruptions tied to...
- The 30-day disaster declaration, which can be extended indefinitely, introduces several policy modifications across Texas:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a 30-day state of disaster on Monday over soaring diesel prices and an escalating fuel shortage. The emergency proclamation suspends weight limits for commercial shipping and allows businesses to use dyed diesel on public roads to help alleviate elevated costs and supply chain strains.
The state of emergency aims to provide financial relief amid a global diesel squeeze driven by tightened global oil supplies and ongoing conflicts abroad, including disruptions tied to the Middle East. AAA reported an average diesel price of $5.86 per gallon in Texas, a sharp increase from $3.30 per gallon in early February.
What Is Changing Under the Emergency Declaration
The 30-day disaster declaration, which can be extended indefinitely, introduces several policy modifications across Texas:
- Expands the use of dyed diesel on public roads, allowing farmers, truckers, and construction companies to tap into off-road fuel stocks to bypass retail fuel tax costs.
- Suspends Texas Low Emission Diesel rules to the limit authorized by the federal government.
- Raises allowable weight limits for vehicles loaded with fuel, agricultural, or timber products up to 95,000 pounds without requiring additional oversized or overweight state permits.
- Requests the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal ultra-low sulfur diesel requirements and other rules to boost supply at pumps in the state.
State law typically prohibits using dyed diesel — which is chemically identical to regular diesel but tinted red for off-road farm and construction equipment — on public roads to avoid tax evasion penalties. Abbott’s order does not waive the underlying flat 20-cent-per-gallon fuel tax on gasoline and undyed diesel.
Political Reactions and Debate Over Relief Measures
The emergency declaration arrives weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as affordability takes center stage in competitive races across Texas. Abbott’s opponent, Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, and the Texas Democratic Party called on the governor to suspend the state gas tax altogether, arguing that Abbott has the ability to act and criticizing his administration’s alignment with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. Terri Burke, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, said: Abbott must also demand that Donald Trump lift his absurd tariffs and halt the unnecessary war that are driving up costs for Texans,
and added: Abbott cannot keep asking working families to shoulder the burden of his political loyalty to Trump while Texans pay the price.
Abbott’s office has maintained that the governor does not possess the authority to unilaterally waive taxes.
Broader Context of the Global Fuel Squeeze and Food Costs
Meanwhile, food insecurity is growing across Texas amid higher inflation and sweeping cuts to federal social service agencies. Stacie Sanchez, director of No Kid Hungry Texas, said: People are struggling to keep up with rising grocery prices.
Parents have having to make difficult trade-offs.
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