Record High Support for Nuclear Energy
Ann Stouffer Bisconti, PhD
Bisconti Research, Inc.
May 2024
Favorable Opinion of Nuclear Energy at Record High
The 2024 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey shows that favorable public opinion of nuclear energy continues at a record high. For four years in a row, more than three-fourths of the U.S public said that they favored the use of nuclear energy. That is a sea change from four decades ago, when the public was about evenly divided between those who favored nuclear energy and those who were opposed.
Favorability to Nuclear Energy 1983-2024
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? (%)
The new national survey was conducted from April 30 to May 2, 2024, by Bisconti Research, Inc., using a nationally representative sample drawn from the Quest Mindshare Online Panel of 3.5 million people in the U.S. The trend lines show annual averages until 2014, as multiple surveys were conducted in each of the earlier years for the Nuclear Energy Institute. All surveys included samples of at least 1,000, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Support for License Renewal and Building More Plants Also at Record High
Opinions about license renewal and building more plants also are overwhelmingly favorable in 2024 and have stayed at the same record-high level for four years. When these questions were first asked, barely half the public supported more plants, but support for license renewal has been present all along.
The vast majority of the public (88 percent) agrees that we should renew the license of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards. On this measure, the public has always viewed nuclear power plant license renewal as similar to renewing a driver’s license—if you can drive safely, the license should be renewed. More than 90 U.S. nuclear power plants received license renewal over the period of the trend line, with support of the local communities.[1]
Support for Renewing the License of Nuclear Power Plants That Continue to Meet Federal Safety Standards 1998-2024 [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. (%)
Support for building more nuclear power plants has grown, especially since 2021.
Support for Definitely Building More Nuclear Power Plants 1998-2024
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements: We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future. (%)
Changeable Public Opinion
Those strongly favorable to nuclear energy outnumber those strongly opposed by 5 to 1. However, the majority do not have strong opinions. Nearly two-thirds somewhat favor or somewhat oppose nuclear energy; they are fence-sitters and have not yet made up their minds. Nearly three-fourths of women are fence-sitters. See more demographic differences below.
Opinions are Changeable: Majority 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?
The More People Know about Nuclear Energy, the More They Strongly Favor Nuclear
The level of knowledge about nuclear energy was determined in the survey by answers to 10 questions.[3] Many failed the knowledge test. Two-thirds of the sample had low or somewhat low knowledge, and only 7 percent had high knowledge. The data show clearly that the more people know about nuclear energy, the more strongly they favor this energy source—with a range of 14 percent (low knowledge group) to 70 percent (high knowledge group) who are strongly in favor.
More Knowledge, More Favorable
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? (Number of correct answers out of 10)
Fence-Sitters Include More Women, Gen Z, and Gen X, and Those Who Are Not College Graduates
A large majority of all demographic groups favors nuclear energy. Men college graduates stand out as most strongly favorable. Women, both college graduates and not college graduates, include a large number with middle opinions. In the case of men, there is a big difference between those with and without a bachelor’s degree—the latter being more uncertain. Gen Z and Gen X are the age groups with largest numbers in the middle. The sample size for the Silent Generation is too small for separate analysis.
Who Are the Fence-Sitters?
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?
[1] United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission website, “Status of Initial Licensing Renewal Applications and Industry Initiatives.”
[2] The wording changed in October 2014 from “When their original operating license expires...” to “When their current operating license expires…”
[3] For answers to the 10 knowledge questions and reactions to facts on the same topics, see www.bisconti.com, Ann S. Bisconti, Knowledge vs Facts about Nuclear Energy. Questions about knowledge and facts were placed after the trend questions so they did not influence measurement of trends.
© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2024.