Informa report says RINs not a factor in gas price hikes

In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association debuted a new analysis conducted by Informa Economics, Inc. that found that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its associated “RIN credits” have not been a factor in this spring’s higher retail gasoline prices. The analysis, commissioned by RFA, found RINs are likely contributing no more than $0.004 (four-tenths of one cent) to the retail price of a gallon of gasoline. Meanwhile, ethanol’s wholesale discount to gasoline in 2013 has reduced the pump price for blended gasoline by an average of $0.044 per gallon. Thus, when the net impact of both RIN costs and ethanol’s discount to gasoline are considered, ethanol-blended gasoline is saving consumers an average of $0.04 per gallon based on straight blending economics.