Sacramento is now a revolutionary outpost in the fight for cleaner fuels.

With the arrival of 25 bright-green and yellow ethanol fuel pumps at gas stations regionwide in recent weeks, Sacramento lays official claim to being the nation's ethanol epicenter, at least west of the Mississippi, air quality officials said.

California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, who unveiled one of the pumps at a Madison Avenue Valero station Wednesday, acknowledged the fuel known as E85 isn't as green as state officials would like. But, she said, it's a sign of things to come.

"This is a test market for the state," Nichols said. "We're in the early stages of the revolution. Consumers will see a lot of new fuels coming onto the market."

The fuel – a mix of 85 percent ethanol, mainly from corn, and 15 percent gasoline – isn't for every car.

In fact, air officials estimate there are only about 23,000 vehicles in the Sacramento region with flex-fuel capability, allowing them to use E85 or regular gasoline.

Many owners don't even know their vehicles are flex-fuel capable, said Matt Horton of Propel, a Sacramento-based alternative fuels company providing E85 fuel for stations in several cities including Rocklin, Citrus Heights and Elk Grove.

The telltale sign of a flex-fuel vehicle is a bright-yellow gas cap. Some vehicles also have a flex-fuel insignia.

An early question looms for retailers, though. How many flex-fuel vehicle owners will search out one of the 25 stations?

State air resource board officials say pricing will be key. Ethanol gets anywhere from 20 percent to 30 percent less miles to the gallon than gasoline but is cheaper.

Wednesday, at the Valero station on Madison Avenue, high-octane E85 was going for $2.26 a gallon, while regular unleaded gas was $2.92, unleaded plus $3.04, and super unleaded $3.14.

Alan Barker of Carmichael showed up in his flex-fuel 2009 Suburban – "I'm a truck guy and I have four kids" – for his first ethanol fill-up.

But Barker said there are other stations with regular gasoline closer to his house he might still use. "Convenience is a major factor. I don't want to drive out of my way in traffic."

He researched E85 online and concluded he'd probably buy it when it's 20 percent cheaper than regular gas.

Sasha Faught of Natomas, who owns a flex-fuel Chevy Tahoe, has been using E85.

"I want to be green," she said. "Let's face it, we're using up our resources. It's smart to get on with it."

The area's new E85 pumps, stretching from Fairfield to Folsom, were financed mainly by a $3.5 million California Air Resources Board grant, administered by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.

Critics have derided corn-based ethanol as a poor choice for government investment because it creates only marginally less carbon than regular gasoline production.

Air quality officials, however, lauded the fuel Wednesday, while acknowledging its current limitations.

Air Resources Board Chairwoman Nichols described E85 as a transitional fuel that will help get Californians used to the idea of trying alternative fuels.

CARB recently set rules requiring reduction of greenhouse gas emissions involved in the production, distribution and use of fuels.

Nichols said corn-based ethanol will either have to improve on its greenhouse gas emissions or give way to other fuels, including other ethanols.

"We are not taking a pro- or anti-corn stance," she said. "Corn is what's out there now. It will change."

She encouraged motorists who buy flex-fuel vehicles to try E85. "You are part of the transformation."

Chris Nobles of Nella Oil Co., which provides E85 fuel at two Valero stations – on Madison Avenue and Arden Way – said ethanol likely will account for only a tiny percentage of sales but represents a step forward in the marketplace.

"We wouldn't have done this without the (state) grant," she said, "but things are changing. We can't guarantee that gasoline will continue to be the main market source."

Call The Bee's Tony Bizjak, (916) 321-1059.