Nuclear Energy Institute reports knowledge of nuclear's low-carbon capabilities increases public support

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) announced earlier this month that public opinion is becoming more favorable toward nuclear power when surveyors are informed of its responsibility for the bulk of the nation's low-carbon energy production.

The NEI and Bisconti Research conducted a national telephone survey with 1,000 adults nationwide. Within the survey, they found that only 30 percent of respondents knew that nuclear energy was the largest carbon-free electricity source in the U.S.

Nuclear energy makes up approximately 63 percent of carbon-free energy generation taking place in the U.S. When informed of this fact, respondents tended to support nuclear energy by approximately 84 percent of the time. Prior to being informed support for nuclear energy was reported among 64 percent of respondents.

“In 1983, when the NEI public opinion tracking program began, the public was much more divided, with half favoring and half opposing the use of nuclear energy,” President of Bisconti Research Ann Bisconti said. “Favorability to nuclear energy has remained in the mid- to upper-60s for most of the past decade.”

In the same survey, 83 percent of respondents agreed with utilizing all forms of low-carbon energy generation and 82 percent support regulators renewing operating licenses to nuclear power plants that meet federal safety standards.