Knowledge vs. Facts: Reliability and Efficiency

Ann Stouffer Bisconti, PhD

Bisconti Research, Inc.

April - May 2024

Reliability is one of the top two considerations for the way electricity is produced, and a large majority of the public also views efficiency as extremely or very important. See “What Does the Public Value in Electricity Development?” (www.bisconti.com/blog)

Many people do not know that nuclear energy meets both these considerations by operating more than 90 percent of the time. Although nuclear energy is seen as one of the most reliable and efficient sources of energy, only one-third of respondents gave nuclear a rating of 9-10 on these two characteristics.

Information that nuclear energy is a reliable and efficient clean energy source was rated highly new and surprising (56 percent) and highly important (70 percent).  

These findings are from questions asked in the 2024 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey. 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 

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: 9-10

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: 9-10

Fact

Here are some facts about nuclear energy.

• Please rate each fact on how much it is new and surprising to you.

• Please rate each fact on its importance.

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. (%)

© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2024.