Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Accept Potential for New Reactor Near Them by Margin of 3 to 1
Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Accept Potential for New Reactor Near Them by Margin of 3 to 1
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighty-three percent of Americans
living in close proximity to nuclear power plants favor nuclear energy, and 76
percent are willing to see a new reactor built near them, according to a new
public opinion survey of more than 1,100 adults across the United States.
The first-of-its-kind survey that questioned only residents within 10
miles of an operating nuclear power plant also found that 85 percent give the
nearest nuclear power plant a "high" safety rating, and that 88 percent are
confident that the company operating the power plant can do so safely.
Electric company employees were excluded from the survey.
The telephone survey of 1,152 randomly selected plant neighbors -- 18
adults within 10 miles of each of the nation's 64 nuclear power plant sites --
was conducted in August by Bisconti Research Inc. with Quest Global Research
Group. The survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage
points, was commissioned by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). The survey
marked the first time that nuclear power plant neighbors have been surveyed
nationally for their attitudes about nuclear energy.
"The survey confirms what some utilities have seen in their own public
opinion surveys and interactions in the community -- that is, that most
nuclear power plant neighbors support their local plant," said Ann Bisconti,
president of Bisconti Research. "NIMBY (not in my back yard) does not apply
at existing plant sites because close neighbors have a positive view of
nuclear energy, are familiar with the plant, and believe that the plant
benefits the community."
Seventy-six percent of residents near nuclear plants said it would be
acceptable to add a new reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power
plant, if a new power plant were needed to supply electricity. Twenty-two
percent of respondents said it would not be acceptable, and two percent said
they don't know.
The survey's findings come at a time when several energy companies,
spurred in part by enactment in August of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, are
taking steps to test the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's new licensing
processes for new plants.
The law includes limited incentives for new nuclear power plant
construction and measures to protect companies against delay in the federal
government's review of new reactor licenses.
"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, NEI vice
president for communications. "The poll's results show that support for new
nuclear plants is strong among those residents who live near nuclear plants.
This bodes well for the prospect of new plant construction, particularly for
those companies considering adding new reactors at existing nuclear plant
sites."
By a margin of 83 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. And by a margin of 87 percent to 10 percent, they said they
have a favorable impression of the nearby nuclear power plant and the way it
has operated recently. Seventy-five percent said they believe that the
majority of people in their community have a favorable impression of their
local nuclear power plant.
When asked about the company that operates the nearest nuclear power
plant, 83 percent agreed that, "this company is involved in the community as a
good citizen," and 84 percent agreed that, "this company is doing a good job
of protecting the environment."
Eighty-one percent of plant neighbors said they are "very well informed"
or "somewhat well informed" about the nearest nuclear power plant. Seventy-one
percent have lived in the area for more than 10 years; 86 percent have lived
there for at least five years.
The results of the survey follow below and will be posted in the "News
Room" section of the Nuclear Energy Institute web site at http://www.nei.org.
The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry's policy
organization. This news release and additional information about nuclear
energy are available on NEI's Internet site at http://www.nei.org.
Questions for EPZ Survey: FINAL August 2005
All numbers shown are percentages.
Introduction
We would like your opinions in a national public opinion survey. We are
asking questions of the general public across the U.S. and also in communities
near nuclear power plants.
Screener Questions: RECORD IF TERMINATED IN X, A, AND B
X. NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER, UNABLE TO INTERVIEW -- RECORD
A. Are you, or is anyone in your household, an employee of an
electric company?
Yes TERMINATE -- RECORD
No 100
B. Are you a full-time resident of this area?
Yes 100
No TERMINATE -- RECORD
C. How long have you lived in this area? (CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE)
Less than 1 year 2
1 year to 4+ years 12
5 to 10 years 15
More than 10 years 71
D. Is there a nuclear-powered electric generating plant in this area?
Yes 100
No -- SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS Q 35
Not sure -- SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS Q 35
Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy and Branding Metrics
1) How important do you think nuclear energy will be in meeting this
nation's electricity needs in the years ahead? Do you think nuclear energy
will be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not
important at all? (CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE.)
IMPORTANT 89
NOT IMPORTANT 6
Very important 67
Somewhat important 22
Not too important 3
Not important at all 3
(Don't know) 5
2) Please tell me if you personally strongly agree, somewhat agree,
somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements. How
about ... (READ LIST. ROTATE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.)
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't
AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
When their original
operating license
expires, we should
renew the license
of nuclear power
plants that continue
to meet federal
safety standards 90 67 23 3 6 1
We should keep the
option to build
more nuclear power
plants in the
future 83 56 27 6 10 1
Electric utilities
should prepare now
so that new nuclear
power plants could be
built if needed in
the next decade 81 52 29 7 10 2
We should definitely
build more nuclear
power plants in
the future 73 43 30 9 14 4
3) 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 in the United States? (CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE.)
FAVOR 83
OPPOSE 16
Strongly favor 53
Somewhat favor 30
Somewhat oppose 8
Strongly oppose 8
(Don't know) 1
Attitudes Toward Local Plant
4) Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would
you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has
operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable,
or very unfavorable?
FAVORABLE 87
UNFAVORABLE 10
Very favorable 60
Somewhat favorable 27
Somewhat unfavorable 7
Very unfavorable 3
(Don't know) 3
5) Do you think that the majority of people in your community have a
favorable or unfavorable impression of this plant?
Favorable 75
Unfavorable 13
(Don't know) 11
6) As far as you know, what other types of electricity plants are within
10 miles of where you live -- for example, any coal, gas, hydropower, wind, or
other types of electricity plants? (CHECK ALL TYPES MENTIONED)
None, don't know -- SKIP to Q8 62
Coal 16
Gas 7
Hydropower 10
Wind 3
Other 2
7) IF ANY TYPE OF ELECTRICITY PLANT IS MENTIONED IN Q6, ASK: Would you
describe your general impression of this other plant/these other plants and
the way it has/they have operated recently as very favorable, somewhat
favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
FAVORABLE 30
UNFAVORABLE 3
Very favorable 16
Somewhat favorable 14
Somewhat unfavorable 2
Very unfavorable 1
(Don't know) 5
8) I am going to read to you six considerations for the way electricity is
produced, and I'd like you to tell me which one is most important to you.
Here are the six considerations ... (READ LIST SLOWLY. RANDOMIZE. CHECK ONLY
ONE RESPONSE.)
Clean air 30
Affordability 18
Reliability 19
Sustainability 8
Efficiency 14
Energy security 8
(None) 1
(Don't know) 2
9) Do you associate nuclear energy a lot, a little, or not at all with ...
(REPEAT QUESTION FOR EACH CONSIDERATION. RANDOMIZE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE
FOR EACH.)
Don't
A Lot A Little Not At All Know
a. Clean air 66 19 10 4
b. Affordability 50 30 11 9
c. Reliability 67 25 6 3
d. Sustainability 59 26 7 8
e. Efficiency 68 21 6 4
f. Energy security 56 29 9 6
10) Thinking about the nuclear power plant that is nearest to where you
live, how safe do you regard this plant? Please think of a scale from "1" to
"7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think
it is, the higher the number you would give. (DO NOT READ LIST. CHECK ONLY
ONE RESPONSE.)
HIGH SAFETY RATING (5-7) 85
MIDDLE (4) 6
LOW SAFETY RATING (1-3) 8
(Don't know) 1
11) Now, I'd like to ask you about the company that operates the nuclear
power plant nearest to you. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat
agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements
about this company. (READ LIST. ROTATE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.)
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't
AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
I am confident in
this company's
ability to
operate a nuclear
power plant safely. 88 61 27 6 4 2
This company is
involved in the
community as a
good citizen. 83 54 29 7 4 7
This company is
doing a good job of
protecting the
environment. 84 50 34 5 5 6
New Plant Questions
12) A company may ask the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to approve
a site for a nuclear power plant before making a decision about whether to
build a plant there. It takes years for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
complete their study of a site, so having early site approval means that the
company could build a plant more quickly when needed. As part of planning for
the future, would you approve or disapprove of conducting such a review for a
new reactor at the nuclear power plant site nearest you?
Approve 75
Disapprove 23
(Don't know) 2
13) If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be
acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the
site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (DO NOT READ LIST. CHECK ONLY ONE
RESPONSE.)
Acceptable 76
Not acceptable 22
(Don't know) 2
14) I'll read some topics about nuclear energy. Please tell me if you
have heard or read any information on the topic in the past year. Just say
yes or no. (RANDOMIZE IN SETS. READ EACH TOPIC AND RECORD YES OR NO TO
EACH.)
Yes No (Don't Know)
Set A
* Clean air benefits of nuclear energy ... 61 38 1
Set B
* Reliability of nuclear power plants 60 40 0
* Reliability of the nuclear power plant 65 35 0
or plants in your area
Set C
* Efficiency of nuclear power plants 62 38 0
Set D
* The need for nuclear energy 70 30 0
* The need for the nuclear power plant 46 54 0
or plants in your area
* The need to build more nuclear power 63 37 0
plants in the U.S.
Set E
* Nuclear waste storage at the plant site 44 55 1
* Development of a federal nuclear waste 54 45 1
disposal facility at Yucca Mountain
in Nevada
* Transportation of nuclear waste to 54 45 1
an isolated disposal facility at
Yucca Mountain in Nevada
15) Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well
informed, or not well informed at all about the nuclear power plant nearest to
where you live?
Very well informed 30
Somewhat well informed 51
Not too well informed 12
Not well informed at all 7
16) Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat
disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about nuclear
waste management.
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't
AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
Nuclear waste
can be stored
safely at the
plant site until
it is moved to a
permanent disposal
facility.
72 31 41 10 11 6
The federal
government should
continue to develop
the Yucca Mountain
site for a national
disposal facility
for nuclear waste
as long as it meets
U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory
Commission
regulations.
83 47 36 6 8 4
Security and Emergency Preparedness
17) How confident are you that nuclear power plants are sufficiently
secure to withstand a terrorist attack? Are you very confident, somewhat
confident, not too confident, or not at all confident? (DO NOT READ LIST.
CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE.)
CONFIDENT 68
NOT CONFIDENT 31
Very confident 25
Somewhat confident 43
Not too confident 18
Not at all confident 13
Don't know 1
18) Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well
informed, or not well informed at all about what is the first thing to do in
case of an emergency at the nuclear power plant nearest to where you live?
Very well informed 42
Somewhat well informed 38
Not too well informed 10
Not well informed at all 9
(Don't know) 1
19) Have you received any materials from the nuclear power plant with
information about what to do in case of an emergency at that plant? Yes / No -
- SKIP TO Q. 25
Yes 68
No 31
(Don't know) 2
20) Have you received any materials from any organization about what to do
in case of an emergency involving natural disasters such as tornadoes,
hurricanes, or floods?
Yes 32
No 66
(Don't know) 1
21) Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well
informed, or not well informed at all about the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and what it does?
Very well informed 14
Somewhat well informed 45
Not too well informed 25
Not well informed at all 16
Activities
22) Do any of your family members engage in recreational activities within
sight of the nearest nuclear power plant?
Yes 48
No 51
23) To the best of your knowledge, is each of the following true or false?
(READ LIST. ROTATE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.)
(Don't
True False Know)
You are considered 27 72 1
an opinion leader in
your community
You consider yourself 59 40 1
an environmentalist
You have visited a 49 51 0
nuclear power plant
or an information
center at the plant
24) Those who visited a nuclear power plant or information center: Did
your visit to the information center give you a more favorable impression of
nuclear energy than you had before, a less favorable impression, or did it not
make any difference?
More favorable 27
Less favorable 1
No difference 20
(Don't know) 1
Demographics
I need to ask a few quick demographic questions to be sure we have a
representative sample.
25) Do you have children under age 12 living in your home?
Yes 23
No 77
(Don't know, no answer) 0
26) What was the highest level of school you completed?
Some grade school 5
Graduated high school 29
Technical/vocational school 4
Some college 22
Graduated college 26
Graduate school 13
(Don't know, no answer) 1
27) Is your age ...
18 to 20 2
21 to 34 12
35 to 44 19
45 to 54 22
55 to 64 23
65 or older 21
(Don't know, no answer) 1
28) Are you currently registered to vote?
Yes 92
No (THANKS & END) 8
Don't know/refused (THANKS & END) 0
If yes: Are you registered as a ...
Republican 31
Democrat 27
Independent 21
Other WRITE IN 2
(Don't know, no answer) 11
No answer 8
Thank you very much for giving us your opinions.
RECORD (DO NOT ASK)
Male 43
Female 57
SOURCE Nuclear Energy Institute
Web Site: http://www.nei.org
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighty-three percent of Americans
living in close proximity to nuclear power plants favor nuclear energy, and 76
percent are willing to see a new reactor built near them, according to a new
public opinion survey of more than 1,100 adults across the United States.
The first-of-its-kind survey that questioned only residents within 10
miles of an operating nuclear power plant also found that 85 percent give the
nearest nuclear power plant a "high" safety rating, and that 88 percent are
confident that the company operating the power plant can do so safely.
Electric company employees were excluded from the survey.
The telephone survey of 1,152 randomly selected plant neighbors -- 18
adults within 10 miles of each of the nation's 64 nuclear power plant sites --
was conducted in August by Bisconti Research Inc. with Quest Global Research
Group. The survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage
points, was commissioned by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). The survey
marked the first time that nuclear power plant neighbors have been surveyed
nationally for their attitudes about nuclear energy.
"The survey confirms what some utilities have seen in their own public
opinion surveys and interactions in the community -- that is, that most
nuclear power plant neighbors support their local plant," said Ann Bisconti,
president of Bisconti Research. "NIMBY (not in my back yard) does not apply
at existing plant sites because close neighbors have a positive view of
nuclear energy, are familiar with the plant, and believe that the plant
benefits the community."
Seventy-six percent of residents near nuclear plants said it would be
acceptable to add a new reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power
plant, if a new power plant were needed to supply electricity. Twenty-two
percent of respondents said it would not be acceptable, and two percent said
they don't know.
The survey's findings come at a time when several energy companies,
spurred in part by enactment in August of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, are
taking steps to test the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's new licensing
processes for new plants.
The law includes limited incentives for new nuclear power plant
construction and measures to protect companies against delay in the federal
government's review of new reactor licenses.
"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, NEI vice
president for communications. "The poll's results show that support for new
nuclear plants is strong among those residents who live near nuclear plants.
This bodes well for the prospect of new plant construction, particularly for
those companies considering adding new reactors at existing nuclear plant
sites."
By a margin of 83 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. And by a margin of 87 percent to 10 percent, they said they
have a favorable impression of the nearby nuclear power plant and the way it
has operated recently. Seventy-five percent said they believe that the
majority of people in their community have a favorable impression of their
local nuclear power plant.
When asked about the company that operates the nearest nuclear power
plant, 83 percent agreed that, "this company is involved in the community as a
good citizen," and 84 percent agreed that, "this company is doing a good job
of protecting the environment."
Eighty-one percent of plant neighbors said they are "very well informed"
or "somewhat well informed" about the nearest nuclear power plant. Seventy-one
percent have lived in the area for more than 10 years; 86 percent have lived
there for at least five years.
The results of the survey follow below and will be posted in the "News
Room" section of the Nuclear Energy Institute web site at http://www.nei.org.
The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry's policy
organization. This news release and additional information about nuclear
energy are available on NEI's Internet site at http://www.nei.org.
Questions for EPZ Survey: FINAL August 2005
All numbers shown are percentages.
Introduction
We would like your opinions in a national public opinion survey. We are
asking questions of the general public across the U.S. and also in communities
near nuclear power plants.
Screener Questions: RECORD IF TERMINATED IN X, A, AND B
X. NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER, UNABLE TO INTERVIEW -- RECORD
A. Are you, or is anyone in your household, an employee of an
electric company?
Yes TERMINATE -- RECORD
No 100
B. Are you a full-time resident of this area?
Yes 100
No TERMINATE -- RECORD
C. How long have you lived in this area? (CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE)
Less than 1 year 2
1 year to 4+ years 12
5 to 10 years 15
More than 10 years 71
D. Is there a nuclear-powered electric generating plant in this area?
Yes 100
No -- SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS Q 35
Not sure -- SKIP TO DEMOGRAPHICS Q 35
Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy and Branding Metrics
1) How important do you think nuclear energy will be in meeting this
nation's electricity needs in the years ahead? Do you think nuclear energy
will be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not
important at all? (CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE.)
IMPORTANT 89
NOT IMPORTANT 6
Very important 67
Somewhat important 22
Not too important 3
Not important at all 3
(Don't know) 5
2) Please tell me if you personally strongly agree, somewhat agree,
somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements. How
about ... (READ LIST. ROTATE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.)
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't
AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
When their original
operating license
expires, we should
renew the license
of nuclear power
plants that continue
to meet federal
safety standards 90 67 23 3 6 1
We should keep the
option to build
more nuclear power
plants in the
future 83 56 27 6 10 1
Electric utilities
should prepare now
so that new nuclear
power plants could be
built if needed in
the next decade 81 52 29 7 10 2
We should definitely
build more nuclear
power plants in
the future 73 43 30 9 14 4
3) 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 in the United States? (CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE.)
FAVOR 83
OPPOSE 16
Strongly favor 53
Somewhat favor 30
Somewhat oppose 8
Strongly oppose 8
(Don't know) 1
Attitudes Toward Local Plant
4) Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would
you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has
operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable,
or very unfavorable?
FAVORABLE 87
UNFAVORABLE 10
Very favorable 60
Somewhat favorable 27
Somewhat unfavorable 7
Very unfavorable 3
(Don't know) 3
5) Do you think that the majority of people in your community have a
favorable or unfavorable impression of this plant?
Favorable 75
Unfavorable 13
(Don't know) 11
6) As far as you know, what other types of electricity plants are within
10 miles of where you live -- for example, any coal, gas, hydropower, wind, or
other types of electricity plants? (CHECK ALL TYPES MENTIONED)
None, don't know -- SKIP to Q8 62
Coal 16
Gas 7
Hydropower 10
Wind 3
Other 2
7) IF ANY TYPE OF ELECTRICITY PLANT IS MENTIONED IN Q6, ASK: Would you
describe your general impression of this other plant/these other plants and
the way it has/they have operated recently as very favorable, somewhat
favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
FAVORABLE 30
UNFAVORABLE 3
Very favorable 16
Somewhat favorable 14
Somewhat unfavorable 2
Very unfavorable 1
(Don't know) 5
8) I am going to read to you six considerations for the way electricity is
produced, and I'd like you to tell me which one is most important to you.
Here are the six considerations ... (READ LIST SLOWLY. RANDOMIZE. CHECK ONLY
ONE RESPONSE.)
Clean air 30
Affordability 18
Reliability 19
Sustainability 8
Efficiency 14
Energy security 8
(None) 1
(Don't know) 2
9) Do you associate nuclear energy a lot, a little, or not at all with ...
(REPEAT QUESTION FOR EACH CONSIDERATION. RANDOMIZE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE
FOR EACH.)
Don't
A Lot A Little Not At All Know
a. Clean air 66 19 10 4
b. Affordability 50 30 11 9
c. Reliability 67 25 6 3
d. Sustainability 59 26 7 8
e. Efficiency 68 21 6 4
f. Energy security 56 29 9 6
10) Thinking about the nuclear power plant that is nearest to where you
live, how safe do you regard this plant? Please think of a scale from "1" to
"7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think
it is, the higher the number you would give. (DO NOT READ LIST. CHECK ONLY
ONE RESPONSE.)
HIGH SAFETY RATING (5-7) 85
MIDDLE (4) 6
LOW SAFETY RATING (1-3) 8
(Don't know) 1
11) Now, I'd like to ask you about the company that operates the nuclear
power plant nearest to you. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat
agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements
about this company. (READ LIST. ROTATE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.)
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't
AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
I am confident in
this company's
ability to
operate a nuclear
power plant safely. 88 61 27 6 4 2
This company is
involved in the
community as a
good citizen. 83 54 29 7 4 7
This company is
doing a good job of
protecting the
environment. 84 50 34 5 5 6
New Plant Questions
12) A company may ask the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to approve
a site for a nuclear power plant before making a decision about whether to
build a plant there. It takes years for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
complete their study of a site, so having early site approval means that the
company could build a plant more quickly when needed. As part of planning for
the future, would you approve or disapprove of conducting such a review for a
new reactor at the nuclear power plant site nearest you?
Approve 75
Disapprove 23
(Don't know) 2
13) If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be
acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the
site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (DO NOT READ LIST. CHECK ONLY ONE
RESPONSE.)
Acceptable 76
Not acceptable 22
(Don't know) 2
14) I'll read some topics about nuclear energy. Please tell me if you
have heard or read any information on the topic in the past year. Just say
yes or no. (RANDOMIZE IN SETS. READ EACH TOPIC AND RECORD YES OR NO TO
EACH.)
Yes No (Don't Know)
Set A
* Clean air benefits of nuclear energy ... 61 38 1
Set B
* Reliability of nuclear power plants 60 40 0
* Reliability of the nuclear power plant 65 35 0
or plants in your area
Set C
* Efficiency of nuclear power plants 62 38 0
Set D
* The need for nuclear energy 70 30 0
* The need for the nuclear power plant 46 54 0
or plants in your area
* The need to build more nuclear power 63 37 0
plants in the U.S.
Set E
* Nuclear waste storage at the plant site 44 55 1
* Development of a federal nuclear waste 54 45 1
disposal facility at Yucca Mountain
in Nevada
* Transportation of nuclear waste to 54 45 1
an isolated disposal facility at
Yucca Mountain in Nevada
15) Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well
informed, or not well informed at all about the nuclear power plant nearest to
where you live?
Very well informed 30
Somewhat well informed 51
Not too well informed 12
Not well informed at all 7
16) Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat
disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about nuclear
waste management.
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly Don't
AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
Nuclear waste
can be stored
safely at the
plant site until
it is moved to a
permanent disposal
facility.
72 31 41 10 11 6
The federal
government should
continue to develop
the Yucca Mountain
site for a national
disposal facility
for nuclear waste
as long as it meets
U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory
Commission
regulations.
83 47 36 6 8 4
Security and Emergency Preparedness
17) How confident are you that nuclear power plants are sufficiently
secure to withstand a terrorist attack? Are you very confident, somewhat
confident, not too confident, or not at all confident? (DO NOT READ LIST.
CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE.)
CONFIDENT 68
NOT CONFIDENT 31
Very confident 25
Somewhat confident 43
Not too confident 18
Not at all confident 13
Don't know 1
18) Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well
informed, or not well informed at all about what is the first thing to do in
case of an emergency at the nuclear power plant nearest to where you live?
Very well informed 42
Somewhat well informed 38
Not too well informed 10
Not well informed at all 9
(Don't know) 1
19) Have you received any materials from the nuclear power plant with
information about what to do in case of an emergency at that plant? Yes / No -
- SKIP TO Q. 25
Yes 68
No 31
(Don't know) 2
20) Have you received any materials from any organization about what to do
in case of an emergency involving natural disasters such as tornadoes,
hurricanes, or floods?
Yes 32
No 66
(Don't know) 1
21) Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well
informed, or not well informed at all about the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and what it does?
Very well informed 14
Somewhat well informed 45
Not too well informed 25
Not well informed at all 16
Activities
22) Do any of your family members engage in recreational activities within
sight of the nearest nuclear power plant?
Yes 48
No 51
23) To the best of your knowledge, is each of the following true or false?
(READ LIST. ROTATE. CHECK ONLY ONE RESPONSE FOR EACH.)
(Don't
True False Know)
You are considered 27 72 1
an opinion leader in
your community
You consider yourself 59 40 1
an environmentalist
You have visited a 49 51 0
nuclear power plant
or an information
center at the plant
24) Those who visited a nuclear power plant or information center: Did
your visit to the information center give you a more favorable impression of
nuclear energy than you had before, a less favorable impression, or did it not
make any difference?
More favorable 27
Less favorable 1
No difference 20
(Don't know) 1
Demographics
I need to ask a few quick demographic questions to be sure we have a
representative sample.
25) Do you have children under age 12 living in your home?
Yes 23
No 77
(Don't know, no answer) 0
26) What was the highest level of school you completed?
Some grade school 5
Graduated high school 29
Technical/vocational school 4
Some college 22
Graduated college 26
Graduate school 13
(Don't know, no answer) 1
27) Is your age ...
18 to 20 2
21 to 34 12
35 to 44 19
45 to 54 22
55 to 64 23
65 or older 21
(Don't know, no answer) 1
28) Are you currently registered to vote?
Yes 92
No (THANKS & END) 8
Don't know/refused (THANKS & END) 0
If yes: Are you registered as a ...
Republican 31
Democrat 27
Independent 21
Other WRITE IN 2
(Don't know, no answer) 11
No answer 8
Thank you very much for giving us your opinions.
RECORD (DO NOT ASK)
Male 43
Female 57
SOURCE Nuclear Energy Institute
Web Site: http://www.nei.org
posted by Marcel at 2:37 PM
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