Texas ranchers and truckers could start seeing some relief at the fuel pump starting this week after Gov. Greg Abbott proclaimed a statewide disaster on Sept. 28 to ease diesel shortages.
"Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel," Abbott said in a statement.
"Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family."
Record-high diesel prices in the Lone Star State have increased in the past few weeks, hovering at an average of $5.90 per gallon on Sept. 28, about 10 cents less than a week ago on average, but $2.70 more than a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The national average reached $6.44 per gallon on Sept. 28, about 2 cents less than the day before but $2.77 more than last year, AAA reported.
As Jill McLaughlin further report for The Epoch Times, Abbott's declaration allows for the expanded use of dyed diesel on Texas roads and raises the allowable weight for fuel, agricultural, and timber loads.
The proclamation also suspends the state's low emission diesel rules to a level authorized by federal environmental standards. This is expected to increase diesel supplies and ease the record-high fuel prices.
Abbott also asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal ultra-low sulfur
