Eighty-two percent of Americans living in close proximity to nuclear power plants favor nuclear energy, and 71 percent are willing to see a new reactor built near them, according to a new public opinion survey of more than 1,100 adults nationwide.

Favorability was even higher in communities where steps are under way to build new reactors.  Three-quarters of respondents in these areas would find a new reactor at the nearest site acceptable, with only 20 percent saying it would not be acceptable.

“It’s obvious that people living near nuclear plants have a high degree of familiarity and comfort with nuclear energy and would welcome the economic and environmental benefits of new nuclear plants,” said Scott Peterson, vice president of communications at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).

The survey’s findings come at a time when 17 companies have announced plans to file license applications for as many as 31 reactors that could be built over the next 10 to 15 years.  Industry officials expect companies to file a handful of these applications by the end of this year.

By a margin of 82 percent to 16 percent, plant neighbors said they favor the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States.  By a margin of 86 percent to 11 percent, they said they have a favorable impression of the nearby nuclear power plant and the way it has operated recently.

When asked about the company that operates the nearest nuclear power plant, three-quarters agreed that “this company is involved in the community,” and 81 percent agreed that “this company is doing a good job of protecting the environment.”  Eighty-seven percent are confident that the company can operate the plant safely.

NEI commissioned the telephone survey of 1,152 adults living within 10 miles of each of the nation’s 65 nuclear plants sites, excluding electric company employees.  Bisconti Research Inc., with Quest Global Research Group, conducted the poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. 

Seventy-nine percent of plant neighbors said they are “very well-informed” or “somewhat well-informed” about the nearest nuclear power plant. Slightly more than three-quarters of the respondents have lived in the area for more than 10 years.

This is the second time NEI has surveyed plant neighbors about their attitudes on nuclear energy.  The first was in August 2005.