Most West Virginians—in fact most Americans—typically don’t think much about the price of diesel fuel. That is because our primary contact with fuel prices is at the gas station.
In West Virginia, just over four percent of all light-duty vehicles are diesel-powered. So, for the average West Virginia motorist, the higher price for a gallon of diesel displayed at gas stations is somebody else’s problem.
Except we all pay for it, and that reality has hit home in recent months.
Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show the average price for a gallon of diesel has increased from $3.52 in January to $6.18 currently. That is a price increase of 75 percent.
The spike began with the U.S. attack on Iran in February, and diesel prices have risen dramatically ever since, along with the price of gasoline. The Conference Board, a nonprofit economic research organization, reports that the diesel price shock waves are felt throughout the economy.
“Historically high diesel prices have transmitted the oil shock caused by the war in Iran through to the price of almost every physical good,” according to the organization. “The burden begins with trucking but also reaches rail, agriculture, construction, mining, ports, and backup power.”
Ending the war with Iran while guaranteeing fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz would help bring down prices. That has not happened yet, despite repeated statements by President Trump when the war began in February that the fighting would be over in a matter of weeks.
Now Trump, facing mounting political pressure ahead of the midterm elections, has resorted to an unholy deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports. The legally questionable move could help Vladimir Putin finance his war against Ukraine while doing little to ease the price of fuel at home. (And remember, that is a war that Trump promised on the campaign trail he would end within 24 hours of taking office.)
Analysts with ClearView Energy Partners told The Wall Street Journal, “Irrespective of whether U.S. importation of Russian diesel is legal, it may not be particularly material to U.S. price relief.”
The late Senator Lindsey Graham must be spinning in his grave. The Trump-Putin diesel deal comes just weeks after Congress passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, targeting Russian energy exports and punishing countries that buy Russian oil and gas.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has sent a letter to Trump urging him to reverse course. “This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies,” the six Republicans and six Democrats wrote.
Oh great. A strongly worded letter. No doubt that will end up in File 13 in the Oval Office. The real question is whether a majority of Americans will finally have had enough of the imperial presidency and its consequences.
Until then, we will keep paying more for gas, diesel, and nearly every other product and service that depends on energy.