BRi Changing Times: U.S. Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy Ann S. Bisconti, Ph.D. Wisconsin Public...
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BR BR i i Changing Times: U.S. Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy Ann S. Bisconti, Ph.D. Wisconsin Public Utility Institute March 26, 2008 BR BR i i www.bisconti.com www.bisconti.com Bisconti Research, Bisconti Research, Inc. Inc.
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Transcript of BRi Changing Times: U.S. Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy Ann S. Bisconti, Ph.D. Wisconsin Public...
BRBRii
Changing Times: U.S. Public Opinion aboutNuclear Energy
Ann S. Bisconti, Ph.D.
Wisconsin Public Utility InstituteMarch 26, 2008
BRBRiiwww.bisconti.comwww.bisconti.com
Bisconti Research, Bisconti Research, Inc.Inc.
BRBRii
Public Opinion Research: 25 Years
Public opinion research sponsored by Nuclear Energy Institute
By Bisconti Research with GfK Latest October 2007 National random samples of
1,000 U.S. adults age 18+ Interviewed by telephone Margin of error plus or minus
three percentage points
BRBRii
64% of U.S. Public Favors Use of Nuclear Energy
64
30
4946
20
40
60
80
1983 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Apr-2007
Oct-2007
Favor Oppose
BRBRii
All Regions Favor Use of Nuclear Energy:Average of 5 Most Recent BRi Surveys
West65%
Midwest67%
Northeast64%
South69%
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62% Agree We Should Definitely Build More Nuclear Power Plants in the Future
47
62
49
32
20
40
60
80
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Oct-07
Agree Disagree
BRBRii
Changing TimesChanging Times
EnergySupply
Energy Costs
Geopolitical Consequences
Climate Change/Clean Air
Energy Demand
BRBRii
Nuclear in the Non-Carbon Energy Mix
85% agree: We should take advantage of all low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy, to produce the electricity we need while limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
BRBRii
Opinions of Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors: July-August 2007
Plant Neighbor Surveys sponsored by Nuclear Energy Institute
By Bisconti Research with Quest Global Research
Residents within 10-mile radius of U.S. nuclear power plant sites
18 interviews X 64 sites =1,152 Margin of error plus or minus
three percentage points Electric company employees
excluded
BRBRii
82% of Plant Neighbors Favor Nuclear Energy
16
82
2
7
9
30
52
0 25 50 75 100
Don't know
Very unfavorable
Somewhat unfavorable
Somewhat favorable
Very favorable
UNFAVORABLE
FAVORABLE
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86% of Plant Neighbors Have Favorable Impression of Nearby Nuclear Power Plant
11
86
3
4
7
29
57
0 25 50 75 100
Don't know
Very unfavorable
Somewhat unfavorable
Somewhat favorable
Very favorable
UNFAVORABLE
FAVORABLE
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Plant Neighbors Have Favorable Perceptions of Company that Operates the Plant (%)
77
81
87
0 25 50 75 100
Involved in community
Good job protecting theenvironment
Able to operate a nuclearpower plant safely
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85% of Plant Neighbors Rate Their Nearby Nuclear Power Plant Safe
1
8
5
86
1
8
6
85
0 25 50 75 100
Don't know
Low Safety
Middle Safety
High Safety
20052007
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71% of Plant Neighbors said Adding a New Reactor at Nearby Nuclear Power Plant is Acceptable
3
26
71
0 25 50 75 100
Don't know
Not acceptable
Acceptable
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72% of Plant Neighbors in the Midwest Said New Reactor is Acceptable
73
67
70
76
78
72
56
0 25 50 75 100
Low population density
Medium population density
High population density
West
South
Midwest
Northeast
BRBRii
New Reactor More Acceptable to Plant Neighbors Who Had Heard About Nuclear Energy’s Clean Air/Climate Change Benefits (%)
60
76
0 25 50 75 100
Did not hear
Heard
BRBRii
Favorable Climate
National sense of need for nuclear energy Clean air, climate change Less reliance on fossil fuels Need all our energy sources
Local support Plants are good neighbors Friends and neighbors work there
New plants will be in communities that want them
