New Nuclear Power Plants in the Climate Change Discourse

Ann S. Bisconti, PhD

June 1, 2022

When a power source embodies multiple attributes that are very important to the public, that power source is hard to ignore.  A Bisconti Research national survey in May 2022 on what matters to the public offers insights on why nuclear energy has become central to the policy discourse on climate change. 

Importance of Eleven Considerations for the Way Electricity is Produced

The survey began by measuring the importance of 11 considerations for the way electricity is produced in two ways:

1)      How important to you are the following considerations for the way electricity is produced?

2)      Select the two considerations for the way electricity is produced that are most important to you.

Importance of Considerations for Electricity Production (%)

Large majorities of the United States public rated each of the 11 considerations extremely or very important. Most important were affordable electricity, reliable electricity, and clean air. The finding that climate change solution tied with clean air when respondents picked the two most important considerations is due largely to the importance of climate change to Democrats. The role of politics in energy values is clear when the choices of those who voted for Biden and Trump in 2020 are compared:

• For Biden voters, top features are affordable electricity and climate change solution, followed by reliable electricity and clean air.

• For Trump voters, affordable electricity stands out even more than among Biden voters, followed by reliable electricity and economic growth. Few Trump voters selected climate change solution at a top consideration.

Men and women agreed on these basic electricity values.

Most Important Considerations for Electricity Production, by Gender and Vote

Select the two considerations for the way electricity is produced that are most important to you. (%)

When these questions were asked, the survey did not mention nuclear energy.  It just happens that the one electricity source that meets all 11 considerations is, in fact, nuclear energy. The unique combination of stable costs, 24/7 reliability, and zero emissions explains why nuclear energy already accounts for more than half the zero-emissions electricity produced in the United States.

Record Support for New Plants

The survey found majority support for license renewal, preparing to build advanced-design plants, and building more nuclear power plants in the future.

Support for License Renewal and New Nuclear Power Plants (%)

Support for building more nuclear power plants reached a record high.

Definitely Build More Nuclear Power Plants 1998-2022

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements: We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future.(%)

Importance of Seven Environmental Advantages of New Nuclear Power Plants

The last half of the survey measured opinions about the importance of environmental advantages of current or future nuclear power plants.  (These questions were asked after trend questions about attitudes toward nuclear energy to avoid biasing the answers to the trend questions). Again, the survey asked about the importance of these advantages in two ways:

1)      How important do you consider each one?

2)      Select the two environmental advantages of current or future nuclear power plants that are most important to you.

Importance of Seven Environmental Advantages of Current or Future Nuclear Power Plants (%)

Large majorities rated all seven advantages of nuclear energy extremely or very important.  The two given highest importance were:

• Clean air—nuclear power plants emit no air pollution (81 percent rated this advantage extremely or very important)

• Clean drinking water—in addition to making electricity, nuclear power plants can convert seawater into safe drinking water (80 percent rated this advantage extremely or very important). 

In this case, Biden and Trump voters agreed, but men and women differed. Over half of women (52 percent) selected clean drinking water, compared with 39 percent of men. Men’s priorities were more varied.

Most Important “Environmental Advantages of Current or Future Nuclear Power Plants” by Gender and Vote

Select the two environmental advantages of current or future nuclear power plants that are most important, in your opinion. (%)

Information Impact

Information has a large impact on attitudes toward nuclear energy. This impact was measured in two ways at the end of the interview—after questions about attitudes. 

1. Respondents were asked about their perceptions of nuclear energy as a reliable energy source (only 37 percent strongly agreed it is reliable) and a clean air energy source (only 29 percent strongly agreed it is a clean air energy source). 

They were then shown this statement and asked how it affected their opinion of nuclear energy: “In fact, nuclear energy is America’s largest and most reliable clean-air energy source. Nuclear energy already produces more than half the zero-emission electricity in the United States, and it produces electricity reliably 24 hours a day.” Two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) said this statement made them more favorable to nuclear energy. 

Impact of Statement: “Nuclear Energy is America’s Largest and Most Reliable Clean Air Energy Source…”

Statement: In fact, nuclear energy is America’s largest and most reliable clean-air energy source. Nuclear energy already produces more than half the zero-emission electricity in the United States, and it produces electricity reliably 24 hours a day.

How does this fact affect your opinion of nuclear energy? (%)

2. After the question on the environmental advantages of current and new nuclear power plants, a repeat of the basic favorability question showed significant impact. Those favoring nuclear energy increased from 77 percent to 85 percent. Those strongly in favor increased from 33 percent to 42 percent. Of those who initially opposed nuclear energy, half (51 percent) shifted to favor. 

Favorability to Nuclear Energy Before and After Information

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? (%)

 Of those who initially opposed nuclear energy, 51% changed to favor.

Conclusion

Among nuclear energy’s advantages, clean air and reliability make a strong combination. These advantages are not widely and deeply recognized. Learning about them increases favorability to nuclear energy. Additional advantages, such as converting seawater into clean drinking water, are likely to become more important in public discourse in the future, as climate change leads to more droughts.  The ability to create clean drinking water is especially meaningful to women.

© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2022.