A majority of Chicago registered voters (55%) support a proposal to require area gas stations to offer consumers the option of E15 gasoline and only 30% of voters are opposed.

Support comes from both sides of the ideological spectrum, with 59% of voters who identify as liberal, 51% of moderates, and 52% of conservatives in favor.

Read the full memo below.

TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Amy Levin, Benenson Strategy Group
DATE: July 24, 2014
RE: Chicago E15 Renewable Fuel Proposal

A majority of Chicago registered voters (55%) support a proposal to require area gas stations to offer consumers the option of E15 gasoline and only 30% of voters are opposed.

• Support comes from both sides of the ideological spectrum, with 59% of voters who identify as liberal, 51% of moderates, and 52% of conservatives in favor.
• Support also spreads equally across the city, ranging from 54% to 56% in the North, Northwest, South, and Southwest areas of the city.
• Support is also resilient: After voters are exposed to an equal number of messages from both sides of the issue, the needle moves to 59% for E15, 34% against it.

The margin of support is so high because:

• Voters want to support the renewable fuel industry. 60% say the U.S. should significantly increase its use of renewable energy sources, compared to just 8% who believe the U.S. should increase the amount of oil used.
• Residents are eager to reduce air pollution in the city: 69% say “reducing air pollution” should be a very important priority for the city, edging out even “reducing gas prices,” which was very important to 67%.
• Notably, there is even greater urgency on the South Side. 78% of voters in these wards feel reducing air pollution should be a very important priority.

Methodology: The Benenson Strategy Group conducted 600 telephone interviews with registered voters in Chicago from June 14 through June 17, 2014. The margin of error for the entire sample is ±4.0% at the 95% confidence level, and is larger for subgroups.

The City Council Finance Committee on Monday will consider legislation that would make environmentally-friendly fuel available to Chicago motorists.

Sponsored by Alderman Anthony Beale (9th) and Alderman Ed Burke (4th) – chair of the committee, the ordinance would allow for E15 fuel to be sold at most city gas stations. E15 fuel contains 15 percent ethanol and burns cleaner than the E10 fuel found in gas stations currently, which contains 10 percent ethanol.

A poll of 600 registered Chicago voters conducted from June 14 to June 17 by Benenson Strategy Group and sponsored by Americans United for Change found that 55 percent of respondents supported the measure, and 30 percent were against it.

With its high ethanol content, proponents of E15 say it has the potential to reduce a dependency on foreign oil and fuel Illinois’ already-thriving ethanol industry. According to FarmFlavor.com, Illinois in 2010 produced 15 percent of the ethanol used by American consumers.

According to PopularMechanics.com‘s Ben Wojdyla, cars made prior to 2007 might not be compatible with the fuel. However, a 2012 study from Kettering University determined motor vehicles made as early as 1995 are safe to use E15.

The Finance Committee is scheduled to meet 1 p.m. Monday in the City Council chambers at 121 N. LaSalle St.

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