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Abbott declares Texas fuel disaster as diesel hits record prices

Facing a tight re-election race, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifts diesel restrictions after prices hit a record $6.53 a gallon amid the Iran war's fallout.

newest coverage 2h agosummary written 10h ago9 pieces37 likes & upvotes9 comments XMastodonNewswires

What to know

  • Abbott's proclamation lets farmers and truckers use untaxed, off-road "dyed diesel" on public roads and raises truck weight limits, but leaves the 20-cent state fuel tax unchanged.
  • The price spike stems from the seven-month U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which closed the Strait of Hormuz and damaged Middle East oil infrastructure; diesel hit a record $6.53/gallon average last week versus $3.69 a year ago.
  • Abbott, in a tight re-election race against Democrat Gina Hinojosa, faces pressure to do more; Hinojosa wants him to also waive the state gas tax.

Greg AbbottGreg Abbott Texas Governor (R)Gina HinojosaGina Hinojosa Democratic state representative, Abbott's election opponentDonald TrumpDonald Trump U.S. President

Abbott declares Texas fuel disaster as diesel hits record prices
houstonpublicmedia.org

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. 2

    Coverage frames move within Abbott's re-election fight

    Outlets including the Washington Post and Political Wire note the proclamation lands as Abbott, seeking re-election, and other Texas politicians seek to address voters' affordability concerns amid continued inflation.

    “Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel. Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family. Farmers and truckers can now use dyed diesel on Texas roads, and fuel, crop, and timber loads can move at a higher weight. These steps cut costs on the farm, on the road and at the store.”
    — Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas Governor · source

    • Gov. Abbott issued a statewide disaster proclamation to help lower costs for Texas farmers, truckers, & families by expanding access to dyed diesel and increasing allowable weights for fuel, agricultural, & timber loads. Texas is taking action to keep goods moving & costs down.

      @GovAbbottPressX15h ago36▲view on X ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
    • servelan@newsie.social

      "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) declared a statewide disaster Monday to address high fuel prices, allowing expanded use of dyed diesel, raising the allowable weight for certain truck loads, and suspending some federal diesel emission rules. Dyed diesel is normally restricted to off-road farm and construction equipment and is exempt from federal and…

      servelan@newsie.socialMastodon8h agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • houstonpublicmedia@mastodon.social

      Governor Greg Abbott announced a statewide disaster proclamation over diesel shortage on Monday, following recent record-high prices. https://www. houstonpublicmedia.org/article s/news/energy-environment/2026/09/28/563038/gov-greg-abbott-declares-statewide-disaster-proclamation-over-diesel-shortages/

      houstonpublicmedia@mastodon.socialMastodon10h agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 1

    Hinojosa calls on Abbott to waive the state gas tax

    Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Abbott's November opponent, has asked the governor to go further by waiving the state's 20-cent-per-gallon gas tax.

  3. background

    Abbott declares statewide disaster over diesel shortage — Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster proclamation allowing commercial and road use of dyed (off-road, untaxed) diesel, lifting weight restrictions on agricultural, timber and fuel loads, and suspending Texas Low Emission Diesel rules where the EPA allows.

  4. background

    Trump vetoes Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — President Trump recently rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the strait, and talks to end the war have continued to deteriorate, prolonging the export disruption behind the fuel price spike.

  5. background

    AAA reports diesel hits record $6.53-a-gallon average — Diesel prices reached a record high of $6.53 a gallon on average, per AAA, up from $3.69 a year earlier, as the war's disruption of Middle East oil and gas exports continued.

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