U.S. Public Opinion September 2013 Ann Bisconti, PhD President, Bisconti Research, Inc. [email protected] BRi

U.S. Public Opinion September 2013

Ann Bisconti, PhDPresident, Bisconti Research, Inc.

[email protected]

BRi

mailto:[email protected]

Survey of U.S. Public OpinionSeptember 5-15, 2013

• 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults• Margin of error +/- 3 percentage points• Interviewed by landline and cell phone• Bisconti Research with Quest Global Research• Some 30-year trends, some new questions

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Topics

• Planning for the Future• Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy• Spent Nuclear Fuel Rod Management• Information and Spokesperson Credibility

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Planning for the Future

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Electric EnergyCompanies Policymakers% %

One year 4 45 years 16 1410 years 26 2220 years 23 22More than 20 years 30 37Don’t know 1 1

53 59

How Far Ahead Should America’s Electric Companies/Energy Policymakers be Planningto Ensure Well Balanced Energy Supply in the Future?

Bisconti Research, Inc. with Quest Global Research, national public opinion, September 2013

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Grade to the United States for Its Energy Planning

Grade D, E, or F

Grade C

Grade A or B

38

38

21

Think of grades from A to F where A is the top grade and F means failure. What grade—A through F—would you give to the United States for its energy planning? You can give any grade from A to F.

Average is C-

“I don’t think we’re looking out in the future

long enough. I don’t think we have a plan.”

“I don’t think they think ahead and

how it will affect the future.”

“They are not planning for anything,

not even repairs.”


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%Natural gas 40Solar energy 33Nuclear energy 28Hydroelectric 27Wind26Coal 19Oil 16

Primary Sources of Electricity in 10 Years


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Future Importance of Nuclear Energy

Series1 39 43 9 7

Very important Somewhat important Not too important Not at all important

Series1 50 35 13

Increase Stay the same Decrease

How important do you think nuclear energy will be in meeting this nation’s electricity needs in the years ahead? (%)

In the next decade, do you think that nuclear energy’s importance in meeting America’s electricity needs will…? (%)


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Importance of U.S. Nuclear Industry Leadership in World Markets

• 75% agree: As countries around the world build new nuclear power plants, it is important for the U.S. nuclear industry to continue to play a leading role in world markets.- 46% agree strongly—up from 39% in February- 82% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 74%

of Independents agree


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Importance of Considerations for Way Electricity is Produced (%)

Climate change solution

Economic growth

Job creation

Energy independence

Efficiency

Affordable electricity

Clean air

Reliable electricity

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

51

65

67

73

76

78

82

82

29

29

27

21

22

20

16

16

18

5

6

4

2

2

2

2

3

1

2

Top Medium Low Don't know


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Association of Nuclear Energy with Considerations (%)

Climate change solution

Job creation

Economic growth

Affordable electricity

Clean air

Efficiency

Energy independence

Reliable electricity

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

34

42

43

51

52

54

54

58

34

41

40

32

30

32

33

29

27

16

16

14

16

12

12

11

5

2

2

4

2

3

2

2

A lot A little Not at all Don't know

Do you associate nuclear energy a lot, a little, or not at all with…?


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Nuclear Energy in Low-Carbon Mix (%)

% Agree• Men 84• Women 86• South 87• Northeast 84• Midwest 87• West 82

% Agree• Republicans 87• Independents 85• Democrats 88• Age: 18-34 88• 35 to 49 86• 50+ 83

85% agree: We should take advantage of all low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy, to produce the electricity we need while limiting greenhouse gas emissions.


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Nuclear Energy in Low-Carbon Mix

Series1 53 33 7 4 3

A great amount A moderate amount A low amount Not at all Don't know

Series1 35 41 13 9 1

A great amount A moderate amount A low amount Not at all Don't know

• And if you knew that nuclear energy is a climate change solution because it produces low-carbon electricity reliably around the clock, how much would you say that nuclear energy should be emphasized in our nation’s energy mix…? (%)

• If one of these energy sources had great potential as a climate change solution by producing a large amount of low-carbon electricity reliably around the clock, how much should that source be emphasized in our nation’s energy mix? (%)


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Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy

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U.S. Public Now More Favorable to 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 in the United States?

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Feb-

13Se

p-13

49

68 69

46

29 29

% Favor % Oppose

Bisconti Research, Inc. with Quest Global Research

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Majorities of All Subgroups Favor Nuclear Energy (%)

• Men 75• Women 64• South 75• Northeast 69• Midwest 68• West 61

• Republicans 76• Independents 71• Democrats 64• Age: 18 to 34 70• 35 to 49 71• 50+ 68


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Many Women Are Fence-Sitters

Men

Women

Total

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

44

23

33

44

60

52

11

15

13

Strongly favor Fence-sitters Strongly oppose

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? (%)


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Perception GapDo you think the majority of people in your community favor or oppose the use of nuclear energy? (%)

Favor31

Oppose44

Half and half4

Don't know21

A majority of Americans (69%) favor

nuclear energy


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Percent Believe Majority of PeopleIn Their Community Favor Nuclear Energy

Plant Neighbors

U.S. Public

73

31


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Opinions about License Renewal and New Plants

We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future

Electric utilities should prepare now so that new nuclear power plants could be built if

needed in the next decade

When their original operating license expires, we should renew the license of nuclear power

plants that continue to meet federal safety standards

0 25 50 75 100

32

41

47

29

35

38

Strongly agree Somewhat agree

Please tell me if you personally strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements. (%)

Agree

84

75

61


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Acceptability of a New Reactor at theNearest Nuclear Power Plant Site (%)

Don't know

Not acceptable

Acceptable

3

27

70

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 reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant that is already operating?


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U.S. Public Now Sees Plants as Safer

35

69 70

46

1415

% High Safety Rating (5-7) % Low Safety Rating (1-3)

Thinking about the nuclear power plants that are operating now, how safe do you regard these plants? Please think of a scale from "1" to "7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think they are, the higher the number you would give.


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Perceptions about Nuclear Power Plant Safety

Nuclear power plants in this area are built to withstand the most extreme natural events

that may occur here

Nuclear power plants operating in the United States are safe and secure

As we have learned from experience and as technology has improved, U.S. nuclear power

plants have been made safer

0 25 50 75 100

26

30

38

44

48

45


Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statements. (%)

Agree

83

77

70


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Spent Nuclear Fuel Rod Management

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Opinions on Used Nuclear Fuel Management

Spent nuclear fuel rods are safely stored at the nuclear power plant sites

The United States should retool its program for managing spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants to focus on consolidating the fuel

rods at storage centers while the nation develops a permanent disposal facility

The federal government should develop a final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel rods as long

as the facility meets U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations

0 25 50 75 100

17

47

57

43

36

30


On the subject of nuclear waste management and specifically the management of the spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants, do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements? (%)

Agree

87

84

60


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Which Organization Better for Managing aNuclear Waste Facility?

Which type of organization do you believe would do a better job of managing a nuclear waste storage facility? (%)

Don't know

A federal government agency

An independent federal authority with a corporate-style board of directors

6

37

57


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Opinions on Used Nuclear Fuel Transportation

Nuclear waste can be transported safely, as long as secure containment and proper pro-

cedures are used.

Nuclear waste can be transported safely.

0 25 50 75 100

41

25

37

42


On the subject of nuclear waste management and specifically the management of the spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants, do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements? (%)

Agree

67

78


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Information andSpokesperson Credibility

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Topics Heard or Read in Past Year%

• Safety of nuclear power plants 60• Clean air benefits of nuclear energy 53• The need to build more nuclear power plants in the U.S. 53• American nuclear power plants’ ability to safely withstand

earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other extreme natural events 46

• How America’s nuclear power plants are safe 45• Using nuclear energy to grow the economy and create jobs 45• Small nuclear power plant designs as a new technology option 31• A company’s decision to close a nuclear power plant 30• New nuclear power plant construction is underway in the United States 29


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Percent Rated Excellent or Good as Source of Accurate and Reliable Information on Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear energy scientists and engineers 74• Safety, radiation, or environmental experts at a nuclear power plant

in this area 63• Medical professionals, such as doctors or radiation technicians 58• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 55• The chief nuclear officer at a nuclear power plant in this area 49• Electric utilities 44• The Internet 43• Environmental groups 43• Antinuclear groups 25• Social media, such as Twitter, YouTube or Facebook 22


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Observations• News about new Fukushima leaks at the time of the survey had

no discernible impact on attitudes toward nuclear energy, which are broadly favorable—but fence-sitters predominate, nuclear still viewed as unpopular.

• Vital to strengthen awareness of clean air/climate change role and new plants being built.

• Communications should link to value public gives to long-range planning for a well-balanced energy supply.

• U.S. nuclear industry leadership in world markets appeals to all demographics.

• Support has swung toward independent federal authority to manage waste program, likely due to lack of confidence in federal government.

LanguageWhat we should support:

• License renewal for nuclear power plants as long as they meet federal safety standards.

• Final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel rods as long as it meets U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations.

• Nuclear waste transportation as long as secure containment and proper procedures are used.

• Chief Nuclear Officer title may not communicate expertise; add “leading expert…”

Documents

U.S. Public Opinion September 2013 Ann Bisconti, PhD President, Bisconti Research, Inc. [email protected] BRi