1. The State of Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy in the United States John C. Besley, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Ellis N. Brandt Chair

2. Part 1: Publicly reported polls Part 2: Academic research

3. Bisconti Research for the Nuclear Energy Institute (data collection by GfK Rober and Quest Global Research, n = 1000) Fukushima

4. Bisconti Research for the Nuclear Energy Association (data collection by GfK Rober and Quest Global Research)

5. Did initial questions push people toward support?

6. Annual Environment Poll (March, 2016, n = 1,019) Same question as Bisconti/NEA Fukushima Gallup blames decline on fossil fuel price drops (r = ~.50)

7. Same question as Bisconti/NEA Fukushima Gallup blames decline on fossil fuel price drops (r = ~.50) Annual Environment Poll (March, 2016, n = 1,019)

8. Annual Energy Poll (Online, weighted, n = 2,043) Annual Energy Poll (Online, weighted, n = 2,043)

9. Annual Energy Poll (Online, weighted, n = 2,043)

10. Fukushima % Favor

11. Nuclear one of many issues where (AAAS) scientists and public have different views

12. Pew Research Center Fukushima Part I: Summary of Public Polls

13. Older, more conservative, males, and higher educated statistically more likely to support building more plants (+ all issues a little different)

14. Part 2: Academic research

15. There are issues where the public knows what it wants and thus has stable preferences. Is nuclear energy one of them?

16. Predictors of “increase” nuclear use (in areas with existing nuclear): Older, whiter, richer male Nuclear familiarity (r partial = -.07) Coal risk (r partial = -.08) Nuclear risks (r partial = -.48) Trust in regulator (r partial = -.05) (Not environmentalism or ideology)

17. Predictors of “yes” to nuclear energy: Older, whiter, male, more educated Preference for greater reliance on wind/other renewables (B =.52) Nuclear waste storage concerns ( B =.30) Trust in nuclear operators (B =.11) Trust in federal regulators (B =.05)

20. Nuclear energy attitudes have similar structure to other attitudes about other technologies

21. N = 1,000, Knowledge Network Nuclear support a function of … Accidents/health Transporting waste Knowledge Energy shortage Adequate regulation

22. Controlling for other predictors, the best issue specific predictors of overall risk/benefit perceptions and support are: Accidents/health Long-term storage Climate change Air pollution Energy Independence Unpublished, 2011 Post-Fukushima Data: Issue Specific Concerns, Risks/Benefits, Support N = 1,000, Knowledge Network

25. Final thought: What is it that you want from the public? Support? Non-opposition? Something else?