Public Opinion and New Plants in the U.S.

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Public Opinion and New Plants in the U.S.

• Patricia Bryant
• U.S. WIN / NEI
• 14 May 2001
• Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Overview

• Nuclear Energy Institute
• Electricity Generation and Projects
• New Nuclear Energy Plants
• Public Opinion
• U.S. Women in Nuclear (U.S. WIN)

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Nuclear Energy Institute
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Nuclear Energy Institute

• An energy policy organization
• 300 corporate members
• nuclear power plants
• fuel suppliers
• design and engineering firms
• radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical companies
• universities, labor unions, research laboratories

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Nuclear Energy Institute

• Members in 15 countries, including Republic of
  Korea
• Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Company
• Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety
• Organization for Korea Atomic Energy Awareness
• Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, a
• sister organization of NEI

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Electricity Generation in the U.S.
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Share of Total US Electricity
Generation by Fuel (2000)
Hydro 7.1
Nuclear 19.8
Renewables
2.3
Gas 16.2
Coal 51.7
Oil 2.9
Source EIA
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Nuclear Energy Largest Source of U.S.
Emission-Free Generation
Source EIA
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Generating Capacity
Construction of 28,000 MW per year on average
Construction of 20,000 MW per year on average
564,000
600,000
Construction of 12,000 MW per year on average
500,000
2.5 annual growth in electricity demand
393,000
Construction of 6,000 MW per year on average
400,000
1.8 annual growth in electricity demand
300,000
200,000
119,119
100,000
57,305
0
1979-1989
1989-1999
2000-2020
2000-2020
Source Energy Information Administration
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U.S. Renaissance

• Increased recognition of nuclear energys
  strategic value
• Excellent operating economics
• Nuclear generation emerging as core business
• License renewal
• Planning for new nuclear plants

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Public Opinion
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Public Opinion

• Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat
  oppose, strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy
  as one of the ways to provide electricity for the
  U.S.?

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Actual public opinion about nuclear energy
College Graduates/ Public Voters Nov
2000 March 2001 Favor 58 64 Oppose 36 32 Not
sure 6 4
1,000 adults, 500 college graduates/registered
voters Bisconti Research/Bruskin Research
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Public Opinion

• Thinking about the nuclear energy plants that
  are operating now, how safe do you regard these
  plants? Please think of 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.

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Growing public confidence in nuclear power plant
safety
Yearly averages, national surveys each with 1,000
U.S. adults, Cambridge Reports and Bisconti
Research, Inc.
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Public Opinion

• Can you name any advantages of nuclear energy as
  a source of energy?

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Growing awareness of environmental benefits
mentioning an environmental benefit of nuclear
energy
Yearly averages, national averages, each with 500
college graduates/registered voters, Bisconti
Research, Inc.
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Public Opinion

• There are more than 100 nuclear energy plants in
  the U.S. that generate 1/5 of the electricity
  without emitting greenhouse gases or generating
  air pollution.

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Impact of information about clean air benefits
of nuclear energy
Before After Hearing Hearing Information In
formation Favor nuclear energy 61 75 Oppose
nuclear energy 34 22 Dont know 5 3
500 college graduates/registered voters Bisconti
Research, Inc., September 2000
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Public Opinion

• When their original operating license expires, we
  should renew the license of nuclear energy plants
  that continue to meet federal safety standards.

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of U.S. adults agree renew nuclear power
plant licenses
Bisconti Research/Bruskin Research
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Public Opinion

• We should definitely build more nuclear energy
  plants in the future.

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of U.S. adults agree definitely build more
nuclear power plants
Bisconti Research/Bruskin Research
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Public Opinion

• If a new power plant were needed to supply
  electricity, would it be acceptable to you or not
  acceptable to you to add a nuclear power plant
  next to the nearest nuclear power plants that are
  already operating?

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Acceptability of new
nuclear power plants next to
nearest existing plants
Bisconti Research/Bruskin Research, March 2001
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Conclusions about public acceptance of nuclear
energy

• Support is underestimated.
• Perceptions and attitudes have changed.
• Need for reliable energy has increased support.
• Awareness of clean air benefits could further
  increase support.

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Recent headlines
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U.S. Women in Nuclear
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Patricia Bryant (US-WIN) gives a presentation
about public perception on new reactors in USA.