Braun Declares New Energy Emergency, Extends Indiana Gas Tax Suspension

Indiana Governor Mike Braun has announced a new energy emergency that will extend the state's gasoline tax suspension for another 30 days. The original suspension was set to expire on Friday, but Braun cited a new reason for continuing the tax break: disruptions in global energy distribution due to the conflict in Ukraine and Canadian wildfires affecting the Alberta Oil Sands Region.

The governor first partially suspended gas taxes by executive order on April 8 after the Iran war drove up pump prices. Braun then fully suspended the taxes in May, but a state law limits governors' actions to 120 days without legislative approval.

Indiana's average gasoline price is currently $3.57 per gallon for regular gas, lower than the national average of $4.08, according to AAA's tracking. The governor projects a decline of $533 million in revenue from the four months of the tax suspension and has pledged to reimburse local governments from the State Highway Fund.