I don’t understand the article. I’ve been told by multiple tanker drivers that ethanol is added to the tank at the terminal. It’s stored separately from gasoline at the terminal.
The writer probably doesn’t understand either. Without understanding RINs, the details don’t make sense.
Ethanol is mixed at pipeline terminals, not at the refinery, but the refineries have to buy RINs that guaranty the ethanol will be added when the gasoline leaves the refinery.
Small refiners don’t have to buy RINs.
(RIN = Renewable Identification Number)