Lansing — An energy emergency declaration keeping fuel costs lower in southeast Michigan is set to expire on July 1 without a vote from the Legislature.
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order in April declaring an energy emergency in light of rising gas prices driven by inflation and the war in Iran. That order allowed southeast Michigan gas stations to delay a legally mandated shift to a summer-blend fuel that is usually more expensive.
But Whitmer’s executive order lasts 90 days, or until July 1, without legislative approval of an extension, prompting the governor on Thursday to urge the House and Senate to vote on a resolution to extend the emergency.
“I’ve done all I can as governor, and now I urge you to act before the deadline so Michiganders can get further relief from high gas prices,” Whitmer said in a letter to the state’s House and Senate leaders. “If the order expires, the eight counties currently covered by the order will be subject to fuel requirements not imposed anywhere else in the country.”
Both the House and Senate on Wednesday voted on separate concurrent resolutions supporting an extension of the emergency declaration. But, in order for the extension to take effect, both chambers need to vote to approve the same resolution, which they have so far failed to do.
The Legislature returns to session June 30.
The House’s concurrent resolution, sponsored by state Rep. Donni Steele, R-Orion Township, passed 105-2 on Wednesday; the Senate concurrent resolution, sponsored by state Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, passed 36-1.
In her Thursday letter to lawmakers, Whitmer noted gas prices in the state of Michigan have risen from roughly $2.99 per gallon to nearly $4.00 per gallon in recent months.
As of Wednesday, the national average price of gasoline was under $4 a gallon, at $3.92, according to AAA-The Auto Club Group. Michigan’s average was $4.18, up from $4.10 a week earlier but down from $4.64 a month ago.
Those costs in southeast Michigan could increase still more without action from lawmakers.
Under state law, gas blends across the state are supposed to begin reducing vapor pressure in April to comply with the lower-vapor-pressure blends used during the summer.
In southeast Michigan, in particular, state law requires Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair and Lenawee counties to switch over to a 7 pounds per square inch lower vapor pressure gasoline from June 1 through Sept. 15, a blend that is often more expensive and that is lower pressure than the rest of the state. The blend is believed to reduce pollution and is intended to address the history of poor air quality in southeast Michigan.
But Whitmer’s April 2 order suspended that required switchover in Metro Detroit, so those counties could continue using lower cost fuel blends until the circumstances giving rise to the energy emergency end or, at the latest, on July 1.
Whitmer noted at the time that the eight counties covered by the executive order have about 5 million residents, or half of the state’s population. The suspension of fuel blend requirements there “will translate into savings for nearly half of all drivers in the state.”
State lawmakers, if interested in lowering fuel costs, could also suspend the state’s 52.4-cent-per-gallon gas tax, but they have yet to express serious interest in doing so. Such a suspension would halt the flow of millions of dollars in tax revenue meant to fund road projects.
eleblanc@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Fuel costs could go up July 1 without action by Michigan Legislature
Reporting by Beth LeBlanc, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Beth LeBlanc, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
