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Ann S. Bisconti, PhDAnn S. Bisconti, PhD
Bisconti Research, Inc.Bisconti Research, Inc.
[email protected]@bisconti.com
Why Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy is Changing
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Buzz: Nuclear Energy is “Cool”Buzz: Nuclear Energy is “Cool”
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So Nuclear Energy is CoolSo Nuclear Energy is Cool
This is a big changeThis is a big change
What’s behind the change?What’s behind the change?
How do people feel about building How do people feel about building new nuclear power plants? new nuclear power plants?
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Public Opinion SurveysPublic Opinion Surveys
23-year trends, latest Sept 200623-year trends, latest Sept 2006
National random samples of National random samples of 1,000 U.S. adults age 18+ 1,000 U.S. adults age 18+
Interviewed by phone Interviewed by phone
Margin of error plus or minus Margin of error plus or minus three percentage points three percentage points
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Changing AttitudesChanging Attitudes
68% Now Favor Use of Nuclear Energy68% Now Favor Use of Nuclear Energy
20
40
60
80
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Oppose
Favor
49
46
29
68
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Changing Perceptions of Changing Perceptions of Nuclear Power Plant SafetyNuclear Power Plant Safety
0
25
50
75
1985 1987 1989 1991 1994 1997 2001 2003 2005 Sep-06
% Low Safety Rating (1-3)
% High Safety Rating (5-7)
50
32
22
60
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All Regions Favor Use of Nuclear All Regions Favor Use of Nuclear EnergyEnergy
West66%
Midwest70%
Northeast70%
South67%
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All Subgroups Favor Use of Nuclear All Subgroups Favor Use of Nuclear
EnergyEnergy
67
68
77
68
73
63
0 25 50 75 100
Environmentalists
Independents
Republicans
Democrats
Men
Women
What’s Behind the What’s Behind the Change?Change?
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Changing TimesChanging TimesChanging TimesChanging Times
EnergySupply
Oil and Gas Costs
Geopolitical Consequences
Climate Change/Clean Air
Energy Demand
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High Awareness of Hearing About High Awareness of Hearing About Nuclear Energy Topics in Past YearNuclear Energy Topics in Past Year
44
47
49
58
0 20 40 60 80
Nuclear for global warming
Nuclear for clean air
Need to build more nuclearpower plants
Need for nuclear energy
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Buzz About New Nuclear PowerBuzz About New Nuclear Power
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Buzz About New Nuclear PowerBuzz About New Nuclear Power
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Nuclear Industry Communicating Nuclear Industry Communicating More ActivelyMore Actively
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Workforce Engaged Workforce Engaged
What about New What about New Nuclear Power Plants?Nuclear Power Plants?
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Prepare to build
76%
Definitely build
63%
Renew licenses
83%
NEI Poll, September 2006:NEI Poll, September 2006:Public Support for Nuclear Power PlantsPublic Support for Nuclear Power Plants
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3 National Polls in 2006: 61-63% Favor 3 National Polls in 2006: 61-63% Favor Building More Nuclear Power Plants or Building More Nuclear Power Plants or
Using More Nuclear EnergyUsing More Nuclear Energy
63
61
63
0 25 50 75
Bri Poll inSeptember
(build more)
LA Times Pollin August (use
more)
BBC Poll inJune (build
more)
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Majorities Said New Reactor Majorities Said New Reactor Acceptable at Nearest Plant SiteAcceptable at Nearest Plant Site
7
25
68
0 20 40 60 80
Don't know
Notacceptable
Acceptable
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National Survey in 2005 of National Survey in 2005 of Nuclear Power Plant Nuclear Power Plant
NeighborsNeighbors
Residents within 10-mile Residents within 10-mile radius of plants radius of plants
18 adults at each of the 18 adults at each of the 64 sites64 sites
1,152 total 1,152 total
Electric company Electric company employees excluded employees excluded
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87% of Plant Neighbors 87% of Plant Neighbors Have Favorable Impression of Have Favorable Impression of
PlantPlant
10
87
3
3
7
27
60
0 25 50 75 100
Don't know
Very unfavorable
Somewhat unfavorable
Somewhat favorable
Very favorable
UNFAVORABLE
FAVORABLE
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76% of Plant Neighbors Said 76% of Plant Neighbors Said New Reactor Acceptable New Reactor Acceptable
at Nearest Plant Siteat Nearest Plant Site
2
22
76
0 25 50 75 100
Don't know
Notacceptable
Acceptable
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Determinants of SupportDeterminants of Support
Perception of need: energy for quality of Perception of need: energy for quality of life, less dependence on fossil fuels, life, less dependence on fossil fuels,
global warmingglobal warming
Perception of nuclear energy’s benefits to Perception of nuclear energy’s benefits to meet the needmeet the need
For plant neighbors: familiarityFor plant neighbors: familiarity
For everyone: safety first For everyone: safety first
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Electric Companies Electric Companies Planning for the FuturePlanning for the Future
Americans like planning for Americans like planning for the future the future
They like an energy mixThey like an energy mix
There is growing support for There is growing support for nuclear energy nuclear energy
Steps toward about Steps toward about
30 new reactors30 new reactors
Preparing now for when she’s Preparing now for when she’s 10 10
