Memorial Day weekend found the cost of driving at its highest in history. Many motorists took shorter trips and stayed closer to home. The cost of driving will continue to be highest in history as the oil industry continues to drive gas prices higher and higher.

"The American economy is struggling due to the sudden rise of the price of gasoline. With the tank of gasoline costing upwards of $70 dollars, many consumers will have difficulty affording to fill their tanks," said Tom Slunecka, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC).

As gasoline prices continue to rise, the ethanol industry is doing all it can by increasing the amount of ethanol-enriched fuel in the marketplace by billions of gallons. "The industry has reached new highs in its ability to provide America a high-performance renewable fuel that will help reduce costs at the pump," said Slunecka.

According to experts, if every gallon of ethanol were removed from today's gasoline supply, per gallon gas costs would rise an estimated 45 cents, making the national average for fuel nearly $4.00 dollars per gallon.

Ethanol is blended in 46 percent of the nation's gasoline, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and lowering costs, by providing a renewable source of energy. By the end of 2007, nearly 140 plants will be producing approximately seven billion gallons of ethanol.

For more information about ethanol, visit www.drivingethanol.org .