Recent public opinion research in the United States and internationally demonstrate a high level of public support for building new nuclear plants to meet future electricity needs. 

Seven out of 10 U.S. adults favor the use of nuclear energy to produce electricity, and 62 percent support building new nuclear power plants, according to a nationwide survey in March by Bisconti Research Inc/GfK.  Although enhancing energy independence is a concern, economic growth and job creation ranked higher among a list of issues in the survey of 1,000 adults.

More than 80 percent of those surveyed by Bisconti Research/GfK favor federal government initiatives such as tax credits and loan guarantees to support the increased use of nuclear, wind and solar energy to meet growing electricity demand.  More than 80 percent also favor the concept of recycling used nuclear fuel for energy efficiency and to reduce the volume and toxicity of wastes.

The polls find that public support for nuclear energy, though high, remains changeable, with support dependent on public awareness of its reliability, low-cost and clean-air benefits.

In a recent international survey conducted by the management company Accenture, more than four out of 10 consumers see nuclear energy as a substitute for high-carbon fossil fuels; 34 percent believe there should be a mix of nuclear and renewable energy.

The survey of more than 10,000 people in 20 countries found that more than two-thirds of the respondents believe their countries should start using or increase their use of nuclear energy. 

Accenture said that concerns over energy security and climate change have made nuclear energy a more attractive option, though it cautioned that this increasing support is “fragile.”  Daniel Krueger, head of Accenture’s nuclear energy practice, said, “Our survey findings show that public opinion can be changed significantly on the basis of available information, and transparent information is the most important driver of consumer support.”

The survey found that 29 percent strongly support the increased use of nuclear energy, while an additional 40 percent would support it if their concerns were addressed to their satisfaction. 

The concerns they identified are nuclear waste disposal (cited by more than 90 percent), plant safety (90 percent) and nuclear plant decommissioning (80 percent).  However, nearly half of these said that more information on these issues would help them change their minds.
In general, overall sentiment in favor of increased nuclear energy has increased, with 29 percent of respondents saying they are more supportive than they were three years ago.  One in five respondents is less supportive.

In a U.S.-based phone survey by Gallup, 59 percent said they strongly or somewhat favor the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity, the highest support ever found by Gallup.  The percentage opposing nuclear energy was also at its lowest (37 percent) since Gallup began polling on the issue in 1994.

—Nuclear Energy Insight, May 2009