BRi Changing Times: U.S. Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy Ann S. Bisconti, Ph.D. Wisconsin Public Utility Institute March 26, 2008 BRi Bisconti Research, Inc.

BRi Public Opinion Research: 25 Years Public opinion research sponsored by Nuclear Energy Institute By Bisconti Research with GfK Latest October 2007 National random samples of 1,000 U.S. adults age 18+ Interviewed by telephone Margin of error plus or minus three percentage points

BRi 64% of U.S. Public Favors Use of Nuclear Energy

BRi All Regions Favor Use of Nuclear Energy: Average of 5 Most Recent BRi Surveys West 65% Midwest 67% Northeast 64% South 69%

BRi 62% Agree We Should Definitely Build More Nuclear Power Plants in the Future

BRi Changing Times Energy Supply Energy Costs Geopolitical Consequences Climate Change/ Clean Air Energy Demand

BRi Nuclear in the Non-Carbon Energy Mix 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.

BRi Opinions of Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors: July-August 2007 Plant Neighbor Surveys sponsored by Nuclear Energy Institute By Bisconti Research with Quest Global Research Residents within 10-mile radius of U.S. nuclear power plant sites 18 interviews X 64 sites =1,152 Margin of error plus or minus three percentage points Electric company employees excluded

BRi 82% of Plant Neighbors Favor Nuclear Energy

BRi 86% of Plant Neighbors Have Favorable Impression of Nearby Nuclear Power Plant

BRi Plant Neighbors Have Favorable Perceptions of Company that Operates the Plant (%)

BRi 85% of Plant Neighbors Rate Their Nearby Nuclear Power Plant Safe

BRi 71% of Plant Neighbors said Adding a New Reactor at Nearby Nuclear Power Plant is Acceptable

BRi 72% of Plant Neighbors in the Midwest Said New Reactor is Acceptable

BRi New Reactor More Acceptable to Plant Neighbors Who Had Heard About Nuclear Energy’s Clean Air/Climate Change Benefits (%)

BRi Favorable Climate National sense of need for nuclear energy  Clean air, climate change  Less reliance on fossil fuels  Need all our energy sources Local support  Plants are good neighbors  Friends and neighbors work there New plants will be in communities that want them