Texas Diesel Emergency
Texas Declares State of Emergency and Relaxes Fuel Rules as Prices Surge
Anonymous
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide disaster for 30 days as diesel prices reached roughly $6 per gallon, citing pressure on farmers, truckers and consumers amid global fuel-market disruptions, including conflict affecting Middle Eastern shipping routes. The order temporarily allows dyed, normally off-road diesel to be used on Texas roads without waiving fuel taxes and raises the permitted weight for certain fuel, agricultural and timber loads to as much as 95,000 pounds while suspending related permit requirements. Texas Low Emission Diesel rules are relaxed only to the extent federal authorities allow, and Abbott has asked the EPA to waive federal diesel standards to increase supply. The measures target eligible commercial operators rather than providing a direct tax cut for motorists, and the declaration can be extended.
Key Points
1
Democrats had urged Abbott to suspend Texas’s 20-cent-per-gallon motor-fuel tax, but his office said he lacked unilateral authority to do so.
2
Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening welcomed the measures, saying farmers and ranchers would benefit from any relief on fuel costs for growing food, fiber and fuel.
3
Texas Low Emission Diesel rules apply in 110 counties; Abbott asked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for a temporary federal waiver, which would be needed to fully lift those limits.
4
The articles note that dyed diesel is chemically the same as regular diesel but is colored so it can be identified; under normal rules, drivers caught using it on public roads can face hefty fines.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
32
Articles
51
Reach
83
A
AnonymousAuthor
