Survey Shows Strong Support For New Nuclear Plant Incentives In US
Written by NucNet
Friday, 09 May 2008
28 Apr (NucNet): Nearly 80 percent of US citizens support financial
incentives from the government to promote the development of
carbon-free energy technologies, including new nuclear power plants,
according to a new national survey.
The survey*, published on 25 April 2008, indicates that 79 percent of Americans approve giving tax credits "as an incentive to companies to build solar, wind and advanced-design nuclear power plants". Only 20 percent do not approve. Those "strongly approving" of tax credits exceeded those "strongly disapproving" (37 percent and 9 percent respectively).
When asked about the provision of loan guarantees to companies that build solar, wind, advanced-design nuclear power plants - "or other energy technology that reduces greenhouse gases to jump-start investment in these critical energy facilities" - 77 percent of respondents approved and 22 percent did not approve. In both instances, one percent of respondents had no opinion.
The survey found that public support for preparing for and building new nuclear power plants remains strong. Seventy-eight percent of respondents agreed that utilities should prepare now so that new nuclear plants could be built if needed within the next decade. In a similar national survey conducted in October 2007, 75 percent agreed.
In the latest survey, 59 percent of respondents agreed that "we should definitely build more nuclear power plants". Sixty-six percent said that, if a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, it would be acceptable to add a new unit at the site of the nearest existing operational nuclear plant. In October 2007, 59 percent agreed with that statement.
Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed that the country should take advantage of all low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear, hydro and renewable energy, to produce electricity while limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Sixty-seven percent associated nuclear energy "a lot" or "a little" as a climate change solution.
Eighty-two percent of respondents said they believed that nuclear energy will be "very" or "somewhat" important in meeting the nation's future electricity needs.
On the issue of nuclear power plant safety, 71 percent said they agreed that nuclear power plants are safe and secure.
Most Americans rank economic growth as a top concern (57 per cent), ahead of the threat of climate change and the need for energy security, the survey found.
*The telephone survey of 1,000 nationally representative US adults was conducted between 10 and 13 April 2008 by Bisconti Research Inc. with GfK NOP, and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. A link to the full results is available in the 'news releases' section of the US Nuclear Energy Institute's web site (www.nei.org).
- by John Shepherd
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
New US Poll Shows Record Public Support For 'Clean Air N-Power' (News No. 100, 13 June 2005)
Americans Warming To Nuclear, Survey Concludes (World Nuclear Review No. 30, 27 July 2007)
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