Knowledge vs. Facts
Ann Stouffer Bisconti, PhD
Bisconti Research, Inc.
April - May 2024
The 2024 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey tested public knowledge on nuclear energy topics. Most respondents failed the test. When shown facts that corrected these misperceptions, respondents found the information to be new and surprising and—important. The study points the way to addressing the large knowledge gaps that persist.
The test of knowledge vs. facts was made after initial questions on opinions toward nuclear energy. Thus, the test did not influence opinions and trends that are reported separately.
The new national survey was conducted from April 30 to May 2, 2024 by Bisconti Research, Inc., using a nationally representative sample of 1,000 people drawn from the Quest Mindshare Online Panel of 3.5 million people in the U.S. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Knowledge
The survey tested knowledge about nuclear energy on the following topics:
Present Contribution
Clean Air
Reliability
Efficiency
Waste
Radiation
Regulatory Oversight and Safety
Respondents’ knowledge level was classified based on the number of correct answers out of 10 questions. For each question, a range of answers was accepted as correct. Even with this range allowed, most failed the test, and very few respondents (only 7 percent) showed a high level of knowledge.
Total Knowledge Levels
Demographic groups with lowest knowledge levels include women, Gen Z, and Gen X.
Knowledge Levels by Demographics
Present contribution. Most respondents vastly underestimated the global reach of nuclear energy 33 countries and the number of U.S. plants (more than 90). They also underestimated the number of U.S. states with these plants (28).
Number of Countries Already Operating Nuclear Power Plants
Give your best estimate. How many countries in the world already have operating nuclear power plants? (%)
The correct answer as of April 2024: 33 countries
Number of Operating Nuclear Power Plants (Reactors) in the U.S.
Give your best estimate. How many operating nuclear power plants (reactors) are there in the U.S.? (%)
The correct answer as of April 2024: more than 90 nuclear power plants
Number of U.S. States that Have Operating Nuclear Power Plants
Give your best estimate. How many of the 50 U.S. states already have operating nuclear power plants?
The correct answer as of April 2024: 28 states
Clean air. Only 18 percent of the U.S. public knows that nuclear energy emits zero or almost no air pollution. Nuclear power plant emissions are about the same as those of wind, solar, and hydropower. All those sources were thought to emit much less air pollution than nuclear power plants.
How Much Air Pollution Each Source of Electricity Emits
To the best of your knowledge, on a scale of 0 to 10, how much air pollution does each of the following sources of electricity emit? %
Correct answer for nuclear as of April 2024: 0-1
Reliability. Nuclear power plants are the most reliable source of electricity, operating more than
90 percent of the time—continuously day and night and in bad weather.[1] Only one-third of respondents rated nuclear energy 9 or 10 on reliability. The comparison with other sources shows that nuclear energy ranks third on reliability but with ratings that are not much different from those of sources that operate less than half the time.[2]
Reliability of Each Source of Electricity
To the best of your knowledge, on a scale of 0 to 10, how reliable is each of the following sources of electricity? %
Correct answer for nuclear as of April 2024: 9-10
Efficiency. Although nuclear energy ranked ahead of other sources on efficiency, the ratings were no better than those for reliability. Differences between energy sources are not as large as they should be considering the negative impact of intermittent sources on the electricity system.
Efficiency of Electricity Sources
To the best of your knowledge, on a scale of 0 to 10, how efficient are each of the following ways of producing electricity? %
Correct answer for nuclear as of April 2024: 9-10
Nuclear waste. Most of the American public cannot accurately visualize nuclear waste, which makes it important to show pictures and models. More people imagine nuclear waste as liquid or gas than solid, and more see it as large and spread out than small and contained.
What Comes to Mind When One Hears “Nuclear Waste”
When you hear the words, nuclear waste, what comes to mind? (%)
Correct answer: something solid
Correct answer: something small and safely contained
Radiation. The stigma of radiation continues to attach to nuclear power plants. In comparison with three other possible sources of radiation, only 17 percent answered correctly that living next to a nuclear power plant for a year would give a person the least radiation; 39 percent thought that living next to a nuclear power plant for a year would give a person the most radiation.
How Would a Person Receive the Most Radiation?
To the best of your knowledge, how would a person receive the most radiation?
How Would a Person Receive the Least Radiation?
To the best of your knowledge, how would a person receive the least radiation?
Correct answer: living next to a nuclear power plant for a year
Regulation. The extent of regulatory oversight of nuclear power plants is not well known. Only 18 percent answered correctly that the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC) monitors each nuclear power plant every day.
NRC Oversight
To the best of your knowledge, how often does the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitor each U.S. nuclear power plant to make sure the plant meets federal safety requirements?
Correct answer: every day[4]
Facts
Given their low knowledge about nuclear energy topics, one would expect many respondents to find facts about these same topics new and surprising—and they did. Twelve facts were presented, and respondents were asked to rate each one, using a 10-point scale, in two ways:
How much it was new and surprising
It’s importance
Majorities rated most of the facts high (7-10) on being new and surprising. Even larger majorities rated all the facts high (7-10) on importance. See the tables below. Among the top surprises that respondents judged to be very important are these facts:
The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspects and monitors each nuclear power plant daily. If a nuclear power plant is not operating safely, the regulator will order changes or shut it down.
Radiation is easily detected and precisely measured. Living next to a nuclear power plant for a year gives a person less radiation than one cross-country airplane flight.
Nuclear waste does not have to be wasted: the technology exists to recycle used nuclear fuel for electricity and other beneficial uses. (Recycling appeals to the public).
Advanced-design nuclear power plants can be used to make heat and to provide clean drinking water, as well as for electricity. (The 2023 survey found that the ability to make clean drinking water is a very appealing feature of Small Modular Reactors (“Awareness and Appeal of Small Modular Reactors,” www.bisconti.com/blog).
Nuclear energy is America’s largest source of clean energy—46% in 2023; wind is second with 25% in 2023. Nuclear energy also is a reliable and efficient source that produces electricity 24/7.
Facts Strengthen Favorable Attitudes
Respondents began the survey expressing largely favorable attitudes toward nuclear energy, with many in the middle. After seeing information that respondents found to be new and surprising—and important—respondents became even more favorable. Most notable was the 12-point jump in those who became strongly favorable, as well as the 7-point drop in those opposed.
Favorability to Nuclear Energy Before and After Reading Facts
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?
Largest changes were observed among women, Boomers, Republicans, Independents, and those not living in the Northeast. See the changes among demographic groups below.
Most Gen Z respondents failed the knowledge test at the start of the interview, but few were moved by the facts. This group may be more skeptical of information, unless it is provided by a trusted source.
The study shows why favorability to nuclear energy is mushy: many members of the public are poorly informed about the energy source. However, information can make a large difference in solidifying favorable opinions.
Facts about Nuclear Energy: How New and Surprising
Here are some facts about nuclear energy. Please rate each fact on how much it is new and surprising to you.
Facts about Nuclear Energy: How Important
Here are some facts about nuclear energy. Please rate each fact on its importance. %
Change in Percent Who Strongly Favor Nuclear Energy after Reading Facts
[1] The average capacity factor (percent of time operating) of all nuclear power plants in the United States reached or surpassed 90 percent for nearly two decades (Susan Gallier, U.S. Nuclear Capacity Factors, Nuclear News, May 2024, pages 50-59).
[2] In 2021, wind operated 35 percent of the time, compared with 93 percent for nuclear (Energy Information Administration). Solar photovoltaic ranged from 20 percent to 33 percent in 2019 (National Renewable Energy Laboratory Annual Technology Baseline).
[3] Chest X-ray: Ionizing Exposure of the Population of the United States. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. NCRP Report No. 93, 1987, p. 45.
Nuclear power plant: Population Dose Commitments Due to Radioactive Releases from Nuclear Power Plant Sites in 1987. NUREG/CR 2850, Volume 9, 1990. Battelle Memorial Institute Pacific Northwest Laboratory.
Coal plant: Radiation Exposure of the U.S. Population from Consumer Products and Miscellaneous Sources, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. NCRP Report No. 95, 1987, p. 64.
Cross-country flight: Ionizing Exposure of the Population of the United States. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. NCRP Report No. 93, 1987, p. 45.
[4] The NRC installs resident inspectors at all plants to monitor their performance at all times.
© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2024.