Local Companies and Municipalities Conserve Fuel Amid High Prices

Businesses and governments in Wisconsin adapt strategies to manage rising fuel costs during Middle East conflict.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:35am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As fuel prices continue to spike due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, local companies and municipalities in Wisconsin are taking steps to conserve their fuel usage. Paper Transport, a trucking company in De Pere, is limiting truck idling, encouraging safer driving habits, and adding more natural gas-powered vehicles to its fleet to take advantage of lower and more stable natural gas prices. Municipal officials like Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson say they are budgeting conservatively for fuel costs and purchasing in bulk to manage the high prices.

Why it matters

The high fuel prices are impacting businesses and governments across Wisconsin, forcing them to find creative ways to reduce their fuel consumption and manage costs. This is especially challenging for municipalities that provide a wide range of public services that rely on vehicles. The situation highlights the vulnerability of the global oil supply and the need for more sustainable energy solutions.

The details

Paper Transport has been working to manage fuel costs for the past 15 years by adding natural gas-powered trucks to its 750-vehicle fleet. While these trucks are more expensive upfront, the natural gas fuel is cheaper and less volatile than diesel. The company says natural gas prices don't fluctuate as much as the commodity costs that drive diesel prices. Currently, over 10% of Paper Transport's fleet runs on natural gas, and the company plans to add more of these vehicles in the future. Municipal leaders like Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson say they are budgeting conservatively for fuel, looking at historical averages and purchasing in bulk, as the county's 30 different departments all have varying fuel needs.

  • Fuel prices in Wisconsin have risen nearly $1 per gallon for regular gas and $1.12 per gallon for diesel in the last month.
  • About 20% of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran during its conflict with the U.S. and Israel.

The players

Paper Transport

A trucking company based in De Pere, Wisconsin that is working to manage rising fuel costs by limiting truck idling, encouraging safer driving habits, and adding more natural gas-powered vehicles to its fleet.

Ben Schill

Chief Corporate Development Officer at Paper Transport, who discussed the company's strategies for conserving fuel.

Tom Nelson

Outagamie County Executive, who provided insight into how municipalities are budgeting and purchasing fuel to manage the high prices.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'Trying to limit the truck running when it's not actually moving and then speed is the biggest piece. If you have your drivers driving in a safety conscious way, not pounding on the gas or pounding on the brakes, and going at a slower speed you're going to consume a lot less diesel.'”

— Ben Schill, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Paper Transport

“'We look at these purchases and make estimates conservatively, we look at historical averages, and purchase in bulk. I think that's a strategy that other governments do as well as businesses.'”

— Tom Nelson, Outagamie County Executive

What’s next

Municipal leaders will continue to monitor fuel costs and adjust their budgets accordingly, while companies like Paper Transport plan to further expand their natural gas-powered vehicle fleets to reduce their reliance on volatile diesel prices.

The takeaway

The high fuel prices driven by the ongoing Middle East conflict are forcing businesses and governments in Wisconsin to get creative in finding ways to conserve fuel and manage costs. This highlights the need for more sustainable energy solutions to reduce vulnerability to global oil supply disruptions.