Illinoisans have no objections to paying more for 'green' cars

People will pay more green to drive green, a statewide survey concluded.

The poll found that 89 percent of respondents supported legislation to stiffen fuel-efficiency standards even if it meant paying $1,000 more for a car, provided they would make up the difference within two years by using less gas.

About 87 percent of suburban Cook County residents endorsed such a trade-off compared to 86 percent in the collar counties.

The poll results, which has a 2.3 percent margin of error, were announced Tuesday by advocacy groups including Environment Illinois and the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

The report comes before a pending vote in the Illinois House over whether to tighten standards on gas consumption for vehicles.

The survey also asked Illinoisans to grade how they thought American vehicle manufacturers performed in comparison with competitors in producing clean, efficient vehicles. A total of 59 percent said U.S. automakers were doing a good to OK job, while 35 percent rated them as poor.

The poll, conducted Thursday, involved 1,798 residents.