E15 could go year-round but will be paid with restrictions on RIN trade

In Washington, Reuters reports that as the Trump Administration looks to approve year-round E15 sales it is also likely to restrict RIN trade in an effort to reduce costs for oil companies by reducing speculation. Restrictions include a 120% cap of RINs vs. compliance obligation to keep companies from speculating while some parties could be restricted from holding on to RINs for longer than 30 days. EPA’s issuance of hardship waivers to smaller refiners has introduced enough of a surplus into that RIN market to push down prices to five-year lows.