Public Opinion on Nuclear Energy - What Influences it?

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

Date posted: 04/28/16

Ann S. Bisconti reports that two recent polls, one conducted by Gallup and the other by the University of Texas, seem to show public opinion about nuclear energy headed in different directions. A 3rd survey, the spring 2016 nuclear energy survey by Bisconti Research for the Nuclear Energy Institute, found favorability numbers about the same as last year. Moreover, the percentages favoring nuclear energy in the 3 surveys diverged widely. In looking for the reasons for the vast differences in the poll results, one finds useful lessons about public opinion. The poll results. The Gallup annual Environmental Poll includes one question about nuclear energy ... Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity for the United States? Gallup found 44% in favor and 54% opposed in 2016 ... a big drop in favorability from 2015, and headlined that, for the first time, a majority of Americans oppose nuclear energy. However, the University of Texas Energy Poll asks ... Based on what you know, to what extent do you support or oppose the use of nuclear energy? (Strongly oppose, somewhat oppose, neither support nor oppose, somewhat support, strongly support, or not sure). In contrast to Gallup, the UT poll found that support increased from 2015 to 2016. Currently, the poll shows, 39% strongly or somewhat support nuclear energy, 26% strongly or somewhat oppose nuclear energy, and 35% neither support nor oppose. The NEI 2016 survey included, among many other questions about nuclear energy, the same question asked in the Gallup survey, and found 67% in favor of using nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity, with 29% opposed. In fall 2015, 64% were in favor of nuclear energy, with 33% opposed. Context matters. Public opinion on nuclear energy is highly changeable and easily influenced because most Americans do not feel well informed about the subject. Read on...