Michigan – At Michigan gas stations, a few cents can feel small until the tank is empty and the week is not over. For families driving to work, school, summer jobs and appointments, the price on the pump has become one more number to watch closely.
That is why Gov. Gretchen Whitmer framed the Legislature’s July 1 action as more than a technical extension. It keeps alive a temporary fuel waiver meant to make lower-cost gasoline available through the rest of the summer, after gas prices rose sharply amid the war in Iran.
The move extends Executive Order 2026-4, which Whitmer signed earlier this year after declaring a state energy emergency. The order relaxed Michigan’s summer fuel requirements, allowing stations to continue selling gasoline blends that are typically cheaper. According to the governor’s office, the change is expected to save drivers about 10 to 20 cents per gallon.
“Michiganders have been grappling with high gas prices driven by the war in Iran,” Whitmer said.
“They’re paying a dollar more per gallon than they were three months ago.”
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The original waiver was set to expire July 1 unless lawmakers acted. With the extension, the state’s energy emergency remains in place for the rest of the summer, giving gas stations more time to sell the lower-cost fuel. Whitmer called the legislative action “the right move to lower costs for Michiganders and provide relief at the pump.”
The issue began in April, when Whitmer’s administration said global oil markets had been disrupted by the Iran war, including threats to major transportation routes and pressure on fuel supplies. At that time, Michigan’s average regular gas price was listed at $3.89 per gallon, up from $2.99 before the conflict, an increase of about 30 percent.
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Michigan’s summer fuel rules are designed to reduce ozone formation, but they also limit what types of gasoline can be sold in some counties during warmer months. The executive order temporarily suspended state-level vapor pressure requirements to align Michigan with a federal EPA waiver, expanding access to a broader gasoline supply while fuel markets remain tight.
For drivers, the policy is simple: more supply, lower pressure on prices, and a little breathing room during the most travel-heavy stretch of the year.
“I’m grateful for partners in both chambers of the legislature who worked across the aisle to get this done,” Whitmer said. “Let’s keep working together to make a difference on the issues that matter and put money back in Michiganders’ pockets.”