Resources & Stats

Nuclear Energy Insight

Fall 2012—Support for nuclear energy among Americans has stabilized at about 65 percent, a new survey has found, and 77 percent believe that nuclear energy will be an important source of energy to help the country meet future electricity needs.
 
Sixty percent of the respondents said they believe that the United States “should definitely build more nuclear plants in the future,” and 69 percent would accept a new reactor built at the nuclear energy site nearest to them. In general, support for nuclear energy is stronger among those who live near a site.
 
Bisconti Research/GfK Roper conducted the poll of 1,000 U.S. adults by telephone in September. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
 
Americans in general think nuclear energy facilities are operating safely: 69 percent gave the facilities a high safety mark, with only 17 percent rating them low. That continues a gradual shift from three decades ago when the majority gave nuclear power plants low scores.
 
Respondents give strong support to U.S. leadership in global nuclear energy trade. Nearly three-quarters agree that it is important for the United States to continue to play a leading role in world markets, so that America can influence nuclear safety and boost the economy.

—Read more articles in Nuclear Energy Insight and Insight Web Extra.