WASHINGTON - Growth Energy, an ethanol industry group, has joined forces with Gulf Oil to provide high-level blends of ethanol in Long Island, N.Y.

Gulf has opened four E85 stations, offering a combination of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, as part of Growth Energy's 2010 E85 and blender pump program.

"We are pleased to partner with Gulf Oil to provide greater access to high-level blends of ethanol for consumers," said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. "Increased consumption of ethanol will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, clean our air and help create jobs in Long Island and across the country."

Gulf's new E85 pumps are located at the following sites:

• 660 Islip Avenue in Brentwood, N.Y.

• 1395 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge, N.Y.

• 2 Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre, N.Y.

• 4560 Express Drive South in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

"We are proud to be among the first to offer E85 in Long Island and we look forward to the day when many more fuel choices form the foundation of a new energy future," said Laura Scott, senior vice president of finance and strategy for Gulf Oil. "We think it is important to offer our customers choices. E85 is an option customers can choose today to address our nation's energy security. We would like to thank Growth Energy, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Department of Energy for making this project financially feasible."

Gulf Oil has taken part in a Growth Energy program in which funds are offered to retailers for the alternative fuel infrastructure. Growth Energy is also assisting retailers with the technical aspects of installation and with the marketing of both mid- and high-level blends of ethanol.

A complete list of all sites offering both mid- and high-level blends of ethanol may be found at www.e85refueling.com/

For more information on the 2010 Growth Energy E85 and blender pump grant program, contact the Growth Energy market development office at (877) 485-8595 or at scourter@growthenergy.org.