US nuclear support increasing

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Public support for nuclear energy in the USA is increasing with more than two-thirds of citizens favourable towards it, according to a new survey commissioned by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

The survey found an overall increase in the percentage in favour of nuclear energy (green) over the past three decades (Image: NEI)

The telephone survey of a national sample of 1000 adults was conducted between 18 February and 1 March by Bisconti Research and Quest Global Research. It is the latest in the NEI's 32-year public opinion tracking program.

A total of 68% of those surveyed said they favoured the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation in the USA, with 30% saying they opposed it. Even more - 78% - felt that nuclear would be important in meeting the country's electricity needs in the years ahead.

The overall proportion in favour of nuclear is slightly up from a similar survey conducted in early 2014, which found 63% in favour and 74% feeling that it would be important in meeting the USA's future energy needs.

Although the gains on 2014 figures are small, the long-term picture shows a sustained positive turnaround, according to Bisconti Research president Ann Bisconti. "In 1983, when the Nuclear Energy Institute's public tracking program began, only half the public favoured nuclear energy. Now, more than two-thirds of Americans are favourable," she said.

The latest survey also shows an increase in public perception of the safety of nuclear power, with 79% of respondents agreeing that the USA's operating nuclear plants are "safe and secure", up from 70% in 2014. Asked to rank how they regarded the safety of the country's nuclear power plants, 64% of respondents rated it as high and 22% as low. When the question was posed in 1984, only 35% saw it as high and 46% as low.

Favourable opinions on licence renewals for US nuclear power plants and the need for new build have also strengthened. A majority of those polled - 86% - agreed that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should renew the operating licences of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards, while 62% agreed that the USA "should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future". Both figures are up "four or five percentage points" on 2014 findings.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News