2023 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey: Public Support for Nuclear Energy Stays at Record Level For Third Year in a Row
Ann S. Bisconti, PhD
Bisconti Research, Inc.
April - May 2023
U.S. public support for nuclear energy continues at a record high level. The National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey conducted April 28 - May 5, 2023 found for the third year in a row that three-fourths of the public favor nuclear energy, and about seven in ten support building more nuclear power plants.
The National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey has been launched at least once a year for four decades.[1] The favorability question has been asked in a total of 87 national surveys since 1983. The 2023 survey coincides with global policymaker recognition of nuclear energy’s important role in combatting climate change, with increased public concerns about energy, and with burgeoning technological advancements in plant design.
The survey included 1,000 nationally representative US adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, and was conducted by Bisconti Research, Inc with the Quest Mindshare Online Panel.
6 Main Findings
1. Record public support for nuclear energy continues for third year.
2. Strong opinions are 6 to 1 favorable.
3. The more informed people feel, the more favorable.
4. A 20-point perception gap persists (many people think that their own opinion is more favorable than the public’s opinion).
5. Knowing that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each plant every day significantly increases the belief that the plants are safe.
6. Nuclear in the public discourse is linked with reliability, clean air, energy security, and energy independence.
1. Record Support for Nuclear Energy Three Years in a Row
Three-fourths of the US. public (76 percent) said they strongly or somewhat favored the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States; 24 percent opposed. Those figures are statistically unchanged since 2021. They have become much more favorable over the past four decades. In the previous decade, favorability had plateaued in the 60 percent range.
Favorability to Nuclear Energy 1983-2023
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? (%)
Most Americans hold favorable opinions about nuclear energy and its role:
86 percent said that nuclear energy will be important in meeting the nation’s electricity needs in the years ahead,
89 percent agreed that we should renew the license of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards,
87 percent agreed that our nation should prepare now so that advanced-design nuclear power plants will be available to provide electricity, and
71 percent agreed we should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future.
Near-unanimous support for license renewal of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards reappeared after a COVID dip.
Support for Renewing the License of Nuclear Power Plants
That Continue to Meet Federal Safety Standards 1998-2023[2]
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. (%)
The support for building more nuclear power plants that has been measured in the past three surveys is unprecedented since the question was first asked. Majority support for new plants spreads across demographic groups, regardless of politics. Women are less certain than men about building more plants.
Support for Definitely Building More Nuclear Power Plants 1998-2023
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements: We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future. (%)
Majority of Diverse Demographic Groups Favor Nuclear Energy and New Plants
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?
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future. (%)
Why do people hold their opinions of nuclear energy? An open-ended question gathered these reasons without influencing answers.
Favorable reasons are primarily about the need for this energy because it is affordable, reliable, and efficient and about environmental benefits relating to clean air and climate change. The themes of energy independence and energy security that have re-emerged in policy discussions due to Russia’s war in Ukraine are not yet cited as major reasons for opinions about nuclear energy.
Unfavorable opinions are primarily focused on danger, although some did mention that nuclear energy is becoming safer. In open-ended questions about reasons for opinions about nuclear energy, few even mention waste.
Reasons for Opinions about Nuclear Energy
“What are some reasons for your opinion about the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? List up to 3 reasons.”[3]
2. Strong opinions are 6 to 1 favorable
In May 2023, 29 percent strongly favored nuclear energy, and 5 percent were strongly opposed—a 6 to 1 margin. The remaining 66 percent can be considered fence-sitters. More women than men are fence-sitters. Men college graduates are most strongly favorable.
Opinions are Changeable: Most People Are In the Middle
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?
3. The more informed people feel, the more favorable.
In May 2023, only 14 percent of the public felt very well informed, including 23 percent of men and just 6 percent of women.
The more informed people feel about nuclear energy, the more they favor it. In 2023, of those who said they felt very well informed about nuclear energy, 74 percent strongly favored it—and only 4 percent were strongly opposed.
Those who said they felt not at all well informed were least favorable to nuclear energy.
The More Informed People 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?
4. A 20-point perception gap persists.
While 76 percent said they personally favor nuclear energy, just 56 percent thought that the majority of the public favors nuclear energy. This perception gap appears across demographic groups.
Perception of Public Opinion More Favorable Now, But Perception Gap Persists
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? (%)
Do you think that the majority of people in your community favor or oppose the use of nuclear energy? (%)
5. Knowing that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each plant every day significantly increases the belief that the plants are safe.
Over the past two decades, more of the public have come to believe that the NRC monitors each nuclear power plant every day. That number has increased from 8 percent in 2000 to 22 percent today.
Belief: How Often the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Monitord Nuclear Power Plants
May 2023: “How often do you think that the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each U.S. nuclear power plant to make sure the plant meets federal safety requirements? If you don’t know, give your best guess. Select one answer.”
April 2000: “The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations at the 103 nuclear energy plants in this country. I’ll refer to this agency as the NRC. How often would you say that the NRC monitors the safety of each nuclear energy plant?”
Respondents were shown this information: In fact, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each U.S. nuclear power plant every day to make sure the plant meets federal safety requirements. Knowing this, how safe do you regard these plants? After hearing this information, the safety ratings were much more favorable than there were when asked earlier in the survey. The most favorable change was among women.
Safety Rating of Nuclear Power Plants, Before and After Information about NRC Monitoring
Please select one number on a scale from “1” to “7,” where “1” means very unsafe and “7” means very safe. The safer you think (nuclear power plants) are, the higher the number you would give.
6. Nuclear in the public discourse is linked with reliability, clean air, energy security, and energy independence.
Significant numbers of the public recall hearing about nuclear energy’s beneficial attributes in the past year, including reliability, clean air, energy independence, and energy security.
Recall Having Heard Anything About Specific Nuclear Energy Topics in the Past Year
Have you heard anything about the following topics during the past year?
Percent Saying “Yes”
Fewer women than men were tuned into this information. Men college graduates were especially likely to hear about nuclear energy’s beneficial attributes. Politically, more Republicans and fewer Independents had heard this information.
Recall Having Heard Anything About Specific Nuclear Energy Topics in the Past Year: Percent “Yes”
Have you heard anything about the following topics during the past year?
Those who recalled hearing about these beneficial attributes of nuclear energy in the public discourse over the past year are much more favorable to nuclear energy than those who did not. For example, see the next page on the question of hearing about nuclear energy as a reliable energy energy source. It is not known if the information increased favorable attitudes or whether those already in favor of nuclear energy are simply more attentive to favorable information about this energy source. In any case, the information likely reinforced pre-existing attitudes.
Favorability to Nuclear Energy By Whether Respondents had Heard About Nuclear Energy’s Reliability
Have you heard anything about the following topics during the past year?
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?
Survey Implications
Support for nuclear energy remains high in the context of concerns about energy and the environment. Nuclear energy’s benefits are being mentioned in the public discourse and this information is being heard. The current survey shows, once again, the very close correlation between the level of feeling informed about nuclear energy and strong favorability. Also, it shows the value of information for strengthening public support. Most Americans do not feel very well informed about nuclear energy, so information makes a big difference.
[1] The survey program was sponsored in most years by the Nuclear Energy Institute. The 2023 survey was sponsored by Bisconti Research, Inc.
[2] Surveys each with 1,000 nationally representative members of the U.S. public, margin of error +/- 3 percentage points. The wording changed in October 2014 from “When their original operating license expires...” to “When their current operating license expires…”
[3] Comments made by at least 2 percent of respondents.
[4] Source: National survey in April 2000 for NEI by Bisconti Research with RoperASW, telephone interviews with nationally representative samples of 1,000 adults, margin of error plus or minus three percentage points.
© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2023.
QUESTIONNAIRE
2023 NATIONAL NUCLEAR ENERGY PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY
Online survey of 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults April 28-May 5, 2023.
Margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.
By Bisconti Research, Inc. with Quest Mindshare[1]
1. Your gender. Select one answer.
2. Pull down to select your age.
3. Is your ethnicity…? Select one answer.
4. What was the highest level of school you completed? Select one answer.
5. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as…? Select one answer.
5a. Are your political views…? Select one answer.
5b. For whom did you vote in the 2020 presidential election? Select one answer.
6. How important to you are the following considerations for the way electricity is produced? Select one answer for each item.
6a. Select the two considerations for the way electricity is produced that are most important to you. Select two items from the following list.
7. How important do you think nuclear energy will be in meeting this nation’s electricity needs in the years ahead? Select one answer.
8. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Select one answer for each statement. Scale: strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
9. 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? Select one answer.
9a. What are some reasons for your opinion about the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? List up to 3 reasons.
10. Do you think that the majority of people in your community favor or oppose the use of nuclear energy? Select one answer; if unsure, give your best guess.
11. Thinking about the nuclear power plants that are operating now, how safe do you regard these plants? Please select one number on a scale from “1” to “7,” where “1” means very unsafe and “7” means very safe. The safer you think they are, the higher the number you would give. Select one answer
12. How well informed do you feel about nuclear energy used to produce electricity? Select one answer
13. In your opinion, would each of the following be an excellent, good, fair, or poor source for accurate information on nuclear energy? Select one answer for each
14. Have you heard anything about advanced-design nuclear power plants called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? Select one answer.
15. How important to you are the following features of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? Select one answer for each item.
15a. Select the three SMR features that are most important to you. Select three items from the following list. Randomize in same order as Q15
16. How often do you think that the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each U.S. nuclear power plant to make sure the plant meets federal safety requirements? If you don’t know, give your best guess. Select one answer.
17. In fact, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each U.S. nuclear power plant every day to make sure the plant meets federal safety requirements. Knowing this, how safe do you regard these plants? Please select one number on a scale from “1” to “7,” where “1” means very unsafe and “7” means very safe. The safer you think they are, the higher the number you would give. Select one answer.
18. Have you heard anything about the following topics during the past year? Select one answer on each row. Keep in this order.
Thank you!
[1] The National Survey on Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy began in 1983 under the sponsorship of the Nuclear Energy Institute. The 2023 survey is sponsored entirely by Bisconti Research. Inc.