Record support for American nuclear
Support for nuclear energy in the USA is at the highest level ever found by the Gallup polling organisation. Some 59% support the use of the technology.
Support for nuclear energy in the USA is at the highest level ever found by the Gallup polling organisation.
In a telephone survey of 1012 adults this month, some 59% said they somewhat or strongly favoured the use of nuclear energy as a means of generating electricity. The figure is the highest ever found by Gallup, although it only edges out support levels in 1994, 2004 and 2007 by a few percent. The same question found opposition to nuclear at a joint record low of 37%. In all the Gallup polls since 1994, the proportion of people reporting no opinion on nuclear power was always 7% or under.
In common with many other national opinion polls on nuclear, it can be seen that levels of support and opposition tend to move simultaneously. This indicates a relatively large body of people have no strong opinion on nuclear power and their stance changes with current affairs.
Nuclear found a clear majority of support among males, 71%, while females recorded lower levels of 47%. Safety remained a concern for respondents, with 42% considering the plants to be unsafe, against 56% who said they were comfortable with nuclear safety. Again, Gallup noted a large difference between the sexes: 72% of men consider nuclear power to be safe, but only 41% of women.
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