Reverse NIMBY: Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Say “Yes.”
For the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
Ann S. Bisconti, PhD
June 2022
The ninth national survey of nuclear power plant neighbors finds, once again, that the vast majority of residents living closest to the plants view them favorably. The June 2022 survey, found that 91 percent of plant neighbors hold a favorable impression of their plant, 88 percent are favorable to nuclear energy, and 78 percent would find a new reactor acceptable at the plant site. Even more (86 percent) would find a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) acceptable.
The biennial survey gained the opinions of 910 full-time residents within the 10-mile radius of nearly all nuclear power plants in the U.S. The plant neighbors include a maximum of 18 around 52 of the 54 operating sites. Households with people who work at a nuclear power plant were excluded due to vested interest. Bisconti Research conducted the survey with Quest Mindshare. The Nuclear Energy Institute sponsored all nine plant neighbor surveys.
Neighbors Strongly Favorable to Nearby Plant
Support for the nearby plant is wide and deep. An extraordinary 91 percent across plants described their impression of the plant and the way it has operated recently as favorable. A solid 52 percent said their impression was very favorable.
Impression of Nuclear Power Plant Closest to Where You Live
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable? (%)
The 2022 results are similar to those measured in the first seven nuclear plant neighbor surveys starting in 2005. Favorability dipped in 2020, a year marked by a particularly bad period of Covid. The fears spread by Covid, sickness, and isolation alone could have affected how people felt about their world. It is also true that outreach from the plant to the community, such as sponsorship of kids’ sports events, was necessarily limited.
Impression of Nuclear Power Plant Closest to Where You Live (2005-2022)
Consensus
Consensus is shown in two ways in this survey: 1) most neighbors recognize majority community support for the local plant and 2) favorable impressions span demographic groups.
Nearly all respondents believe that the majority of their community has a favorable impression of the plant. That finding, observed in all nine surveys, is different from the perception gap observed in the U.S. population at large. Surveys find that the general public believes that public opinion is less favorable to nuclear energy than their own.
Perceived Community Favorability
Do you think that the majority of people in your community have a favorable or unfavorable impression of this plant? (%)
Moreover, consensus is shown by the finding that support crosses demographics. At least 85 percent of every demographic group shown below reported a favorable impression of the local plant. Groups most strongly favorable, as always, include men, college graduates, older generations, Republicans, conservatives, and Trump voters.
No group includes more than 3 percent whose impression of the plant is strongly unfavorable. For example, only 2 percent of women, 3 percent of liberals, and 1 percent of Democrats and Biden voters are strongly unfavorable to the plant.
Impression of Nuclear Power Plant, by Demographics
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable? (%)
Favorable Opinions of the Plant are Grounded in Perceived Safety
Plant neighbors, for the most part, view their nearby plant as safe. A full 83 percent rated the plant’s safety high (5 to 7 on a 7-point scale), and 62 percent gave the plant a top two safety rating. The trend data show that opinions in 2022 are similar to those measured in the first seven surveys and higher than in 2020.
Safety of Nuclear Power Plant Nearest to Where You Live
Still thinking about the nuclear power plant that is nearest to where you live, how safe do you regard this plant? Please think of a scale from "1" to "7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think it is, the higher the number you would give. (%)
Safety of Nuclear Power Plant Nearest to Where You Live (2005-2022)
High Confidence in the Company
Thinking about the company that operates the nearby plant, almost everyone (93 percent) expressed confidence in that company’s ability to operate a nuclear power plant safely, with 52 percent agreeing strongly. They expressed similar high confidence that the company has prepared the plant to withstand the most severe natural events that may occur in the region. In fact, nuclear power plants have historically withstood severe events such as major hurricanes, and the U.S. nuclear industry added extra protection for all plants, including regional support systems, after the Fukushima tsunami in Japan.
Environmental protection and community involvement are important goals of nuclear power plant operations in the U.S. The companies also received high marks for meeting those objectives.
Confidence in the Company
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about the company that operates the nearest nuclear power plant? (%)
High Awareness of Community Contributions
The survey finds that neighbors believe that their nuclear power plants provide good jobs for local people (92 percent) and help the local economy (91 percent). Most (88 percent) called the plant a good neighbor.
Although families with persons who work at the plant were excluded from the study, two-thirds of respondents said they know someone who works there. U.S. companies try to hire from local communities and encourage employee involvement in the community.
Opinions about the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about the nuclear power plant nearest to you? (%)
Company involvement in the community has been measured for several years, as a benchmark for individual plant neighbor surveys. The importance of community involvement cannot be overestimated. In 2022, 75 percent were aware of community services provided by the company such as “financially supporting community organizations and events, supporting area schools, and volunteering.”
Awareness of the Company’s Community Services
Companies may provide community services such as by financially supporting community organizations and events, supporting area schools, and volunteering. To the best of your knowledge, does your nearest nuclear power plant or the company that runs the plant provide community services like that? (%)
New Reactor Acceptable
A very large majority of respondents said that a new reactor would be acceptable at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant (78 percent). Even more (86 percent) would find a Small Modular Reactor (SMR), an “advanced alternative for supplying electricity,” acceptable. These findings show that siting new reactors may not be as difficult as some commentators imagine. There are many existing plant sites where new reactors could be considered.
Acceptability of Adding a New Nuclear Reactor at the Site of the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant
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 nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (%)
Acceptability of Adding a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) At the Site of the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant
Innovative Small Modular Reactors, known as SMRs, are a new advanced alternative for supplying electricity. Would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (%)
At least 78 percent of every demographic group shown on the next graph said that adding an SMR at the nearest plant site would be acceptable.
Acceptability of Adding a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the Site of the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant, by Demographics
Innovative Small Modular Reactors, known as SMRs, are a new advanced alternative for supplying electricity. Would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (%)
Favorable Opinions of Nuclear Energy
Plant neighbors have always expressed more favorable opinions of nuclear energy than the general U.S. public. Bisconti Research surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults with Quest Mindshare in May 2022. The same four questions were asked in both the plant neighbor survey and the survey of the general U.S. public. As of May-June 2022, 88 percent of plant neighbors, compared with 77 percent of the general U.S. public, favored nuclear energy. Nearly all plant neighbors (96 percent) and 86 percent of the public believe that nuclear energy will be important in meeting the nation’s electricity needs.
Favorability to Nuclear Energy: Plant Neighbors Vs. General U.S. Public
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? (%)
Importance of Nuclear Energy: Plant Neighbors Vs. General U.S. Public
How important do you think nuclear energy will be in meeting this nation’s electricity needs in the years ahead? (%)
Both plant neighbors (95 percent) and the general U.S. public (86 percent) overwhelmingly believe that we should renew the licenses of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards. Nearly two-thirds of plant neighbors hold this opinion strongly. There is very little difference between plant neighbors and the general public on the question building more nuclear power plants in the future. Nearly three-fourths of both groups agree with that proposition.
Agreement with License Renewal: Plant Neighbors Vs. General U.S. Public
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? When their current operating license expires, we should renew the license of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards. (%)
Agreement with Building New Plants: Plant Neighbors Vs. General U.S. Public
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? We should build more nuclear power plants in the future. (%)
Confidence in Waste Management
Regarding used nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants, most plant neighbors agree that they can be managed safely in facilities that meet U.S. Nuclear Regulatory regulations; that they can be transported safely as long as secure containment and proper procedures are used; and that they are safely stored at the plant site. However, our previous focus groups and other studies on the topic indicate that many plant neighbors cannot accurately envision nuclear fuel rods or how they are stored. Companies should assume that much of the confidence expressed in this set of questions is due to trust in the nuclear enterprise and does not necessarily reflect true understanding.
Agreement With Statements about Nuclear Waste Management
On the subject of nuclear waste management and specifically the management of the used nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants, do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements? (%)
Nuclear Energy Linked with Reliable Electricity, Job Creation, Advanced Technology, and Energy Security More Than Clean Air and Solving Climate Change
Plant neighbors’ familiarity with nuclear energy is reflected in their favorable view of nuclear energy’s attributes—especially reliable electricity, job creation, advanced technology, and energy security. See next page. However, surprisingly few associate nuclear energy a lot with clean air (39 percent) and climate change solution (36 percent). Considering that nuclear energy generates about half of U.S. emission-free electricity and is increasingly recognized as a foundational climate change solution, it is surprising that many plant neighbors, who clearly support their plants, do not strongly recognize these environmental and health advantages.
Association with Attributes of Nuclear Energy
Do you associate nuclear energy a lot, a little, or not at all with each of the following? (%)
More Informed, More Favorable
There is room to grow awareness. Only 28 percent of plant neighbors feel very well informed about nuclear energy. Education on nuclear energy has been hampered in the past two decades after plants closed energy education centers that were located inside the plant perimeter.
How Well Informed about Nuclear Energy?
How well informed do you feel about nuclear energy used to produce electricity? (%)
The impact of energy education is clear: the more plant neighbors feel informed about nuclear energy, the more strongly they favor this energy source. Among those who feel very well informed about nuclear energy, 73 percent are strongly in favor.
The More Informed Plant Neighbors Feel, the More Favorable
How well informed do you feel about nuclear energy used to produce electricity?
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?
Conclusion
When siting industrial facilities, the term NIMBY, Not in My Backyard, often pops up. In the U.S., the case of nuclear energy may be unique. There are many communities that know nuclear energy and already gladly host one or more plants. These are communities that could be considered potential candidates for new plants. Many of them are likely to say “yes.” Community support is due to familiarity with the plants and their excellent performance. Also, outreach to the community is valued and practiced by operators of these plants and is recognized by those who live there.
© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2022.