NUCLEAR POWERPublic Perceptions

FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

March 11, 2011

• 8.9 magnitude earthquake devastated east coast of Japan

• Followed by a crippling tsunami

Caused:

• Cut-off to off-site power• Flooded diesel generators that provide back-up power to plant’s cooling system• Explosions and near meltdown situation

NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Prior to Japan Disaster

• 30 new nuclear reactors projected for U.S.

• 28 license applications received by NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

• 6 in Texas alone

QUOTE FROM GLOBAL CCS INSTITUTE

“ It’s useful to recall the response to past nuclear accidents. Following the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania in 1979, a decades-long run of building nuclear plants in the U.S. stopped. New nuclear expansion stalled following the Chernobyl melt-down in Russia in 1986, as well.

This time around, global reaction looks more nuanced, given heightened energy demand, global warming anxieties and huge ongoing commitments to nuclear in developing Asia. Europe and the US are both showing signs that further extensions of existing reactors may run into heightened opposition, and plans to build new facilities face higher hurdlers. If conditions continue to worsen in Japan, prospects for nuclear energy, particularly in Western democracies are likely to erode.”

OBJECTIVES

View and understand changes of acceptance of nuclear power after Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster (Nationwide USA Today/Gallup Poll)

Review results of personal poll conducted concerning the expansion of nuclear power

Understand the changes made by the impact of Fukushima disaster (Personal Poll)

Use of data to provide the knowledge and acceptance of nuclear power in the United States

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN UNITED STATES

MARCH 3-6, 2011 MARCH 15, 2011

57%38%

5%

Before Nuclear Ac-cident in Japan

Favor

Oppose 44%

47%

9%

After Nuclear Ac-cident in Japan

FavorOpposeNo Answer

Poll conducted by: USA Today/Gallup

PERSONAL SURVEY

100 College Students, High School Students and General Public (Total: 300 Surveys)

Survey consisted of 5 questions1. Do you think the United States should expand the use of nuclear

power? If No, where should we get our power from?2. Has the accident in Japan influenced your decision on how you

answered number one?3. Do you think the media covered the nuclear power plant disaster

in Japan well enough for you/public to understand?4. If the United States plans to continue building nuclear reactors for

energy, do you think that you/public should be better informed and educated of the operations, risks, and overall safety?

5. What is the first thought that comes to mind when you think of nuclear power and the handling of radioactive material?

EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR POWER

College Students High School Students General Public0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

58 57

72

3943

23

30

5

Yes No Don't Know

JAPAN ACCIDENT CHANGED OPINION

College Students High School Students General Public0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

41

81.6

47.9

59

18.6

52.1

0 0 0

Yes No Don't Know

MEDIA UNDERSTANDABLE

College Studenst High School Students General Public0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

44

55

29

56

45

71

0 0 0

Yes No Don't Know

MORE INFORMATION TO PUBLIC

College Studenst High School Students General Public0

20

40

60

80

100

120

92 9196

8 94

0 0 0

Yes No Don't Know

CHANGED OUTLOOK ON NUCLEAR POWER

College Students 16 out of 39 students changed their mind due to

accident

High School Students 35 out of 43 students changed their mind due to

accident

General Public 11 out of 23 people changed their mind due to

accident

OTHER SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY

RESPONSES TO FIRST THOUGHTS

73% Negative Responses Cancer Dangerous Bombs

27% Positive Responses Creation of Jobs Safe Cleaner Environment

CONCLUSIONS

All three categories, people are in favor of nuclear power

Those that said no, many of responses had changed from yes to no due to Japan accident

Media coverage was not sufficient enough

Public wants to be better informed of nuclear power

PERSONAL CONCLUSION

An uninformed public causes fear! Need more education on nuclear power More expert information, better

acceptance of nuclear power by public

Thank You

QUESTIONS?

REFERENCES • http://www.gallup.com/poll/146660/Disaster-Japan-Raises-Nuclear-Concerns.aspx

• http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/col.html

• http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/community

• 100 College Students

• 100 High School Students

• 100 of the General Public