The State of Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy in the United States

John C. Besley, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Ellis N. Brandt Chair

Part 1: Publicly reported polls

Part 2: Academic research

(Wish we had private/industry polls)

Bisconti Research for the Nuclear Energy Institute

(data collection by GfK Roper and Quest Global Research, n = 1000)

Fukushima

Bisconti Research for the Nuclear Energy Association

(data collection by GfK Roper and Quest Global Research)

Bisconti Research for the Nuclear Energy Association

(data collection by GfK Roper and Quest Global Research)

Did initial questions push people toward

support?

Annual Environment Poll(March, 2016, n = 1,019)

Same question as Bisconti/NEI

Fukushima

Gallup blames decline on fossil fuel price drops

(r = ~.50)

Survey is environment focused; may push down support?

Annual Energy Poll(Online, weighted, n = 2,043) Annual Energy Poll(Online, weighted, n = 2,043)

Annual Energy Poll(Online, weighted, n = 2,043)

Fukushima

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

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3944 47 45 47

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38 41

5145

Promoting the increased use of nuclear powerBuilding more nuclear power plants to generate electricity

% Favor

Nuclear one of many issues where (AAAS) scientists and public have different views

Pew Research Center

Fukushima

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Gallup (Favor, One way) Gallup (Favor, General)Pew (Promoting) Pew (Favor)NEI/Bisconti (Favor)

Part I: Summary of Public Polls

Older, more conservative, males, and higher educated

statistically more likely to support building more plants(+ all issues a little different)

Part 2: Academic research

There are issues where the public knows what it wants and thus has stable preferences. Is nuclear energy one of them?

Predictors of “increase” nuclear use(in areas with existing nuclear):• Older, whiter, richer male• Nuclear familiarity (rpartial = -.07)• Coal risk (rpartial = -.08)• Nuclear risks (rpartial = -.48)• Trust in regulator (rpartial = -.05)

(Not environmentalism or ideology)

Predictors of “yes” to nuclear energy:• Older, whiter, male, more educated• Preference for greater reliance on

wind/other renewables (B = .52)• Nuclear waste storage concerns ( B = -.30)• Trust in nuclear operators (B = .11)• Trust in federal regulators (B = .05)

N = 1,000, Knowledge Network

Nuclear support a function of …• Accidents/health• Transporting waste• Trust• Knowledge• Energy shortage• Adequate regulation

2015

Controlling for other predictors, the best issue specific predictors of overall risk/benefit perceptions and support are:• Accidents/health• Long-term storage• Climate change• Air pollution• Energy Independence

Unpublished, 2011 Post-Fukushima Data: Issue Specific Concerns, Risks/Benefits, Support

N = 1,000, Knowledge Network

Nuclear energy attitudes have similar structure to other attitudes about other technologies

Final thought: What is it that you want from the public? Support? Non-opposition? Something else?