WASHINGTON, May 31, 2006 /PRNewswire

 

Despite a major sales push by the Bush Administration and the electrical utility industry, nuclear power is viewed in a deeply skeptical way by a "strong and strikingly bipartisan majority" of Americans, according to a major new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) survey released today by the Civil Society Institute, a nonpartisan and nonprofit think tank that has conducted extensive public opinion research into the attitude of Americans about energy-related issues. According to the survey, Americans favor developing clean renewable energy alternatives and strategies -- including increased conservation, solar energy and wind power -- that can be delivered more rapidly than nuclear power.

The new CSI survey found that more than three out of five Americans (61 percent) say the nation can't "afford to wait ... to put in place part of the solution to the energy crisis and global warming" if "building more nuclear power plants will take a decade or more in the U.S. and cost tens of billions of dollars." Only a third said the U.S. could wait for more nuclear power plants to come on-line as a way to dealing with today's energy and climate woes.

A key survey finding: Politics does not seem to be a factor when it comes to supporting or opposing nuclear power and other energy alternatives. A nearly identical 60 percent of conservatives, 62 percent of independents and 68 percent of liberals agree with the 61 percent of Americans who think the nation can't afford the wait and expense associated with erecting more nuclear power plants. (However, the Bush Administration and other pro-nuclear lobbyists may have friends in nonvoters, of whom 47 percent are unconcerned about the build-out timeline and cost issues associated with more nuclear power, compared to the 63 percent of voters who are.)

Another illustration of the strikingly bipartisan nature of the views of Americans on nuclear power: Only 9 percent of conservatives, 8 percent of independents and 5 percent of liberals say they have "no concerns about increased U.S. reliance on nuclear power."

Civil Society Institute President Pam Solo said: "Once again, Americans are 'leading their leaders' and weighing in solidly behind renewable and clean technologies. The reality is that concerns about safety and radioactive wastes will continue to plague the nuclear industry. The public favors the deployment of proven transitional technologies that can be applied appropriately, taking advantage of the natural resources of a region. For decades, our elected officials and corporate leaders have deferred solving our energy problems. Now facing another extending crisis, it is long past time to take advantage of technologies that are clean, renewable and that can help rescue the environment from human-induced climate change."

Opinion Research Corporation Vice President Wayne Russum said: "These survey findings suggest that Americans in general - and politically active Americans more specifically - are unlikely to be persuaded by arguments that nuclear power is a credible solution to today's energy crisis and climate change. Those who are out there selling nuclear power on the campaign trail and in the news media clearly have their work cut out for them. The bottom line is that Americans want to hear more about conservation, solar and wind power - which they view as credible steps that can be taken now to deal with the energy crisis and global warming."

For full survey findings, go to the Civil Society Institute Web site at http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org. The CSI Web site also features a March 2006 report, "Policy Abhors a Vacuum," which outlines steps that "more than 40 states, and almost 200 municipalities are taking ... to address global warming concerns."

ORC SURVEY METHODOLOGY

Survey results are based on telephone interviews conducted among a sample of 1,016 adults (505 men and 511 women) aged 18 and over living in private households in the continental United States. Interviewing was completed by Opinion Research Corporation during the period of May 18-21, 2006. Completed interviews of the survey adults were weighted by four variables: age, sex, geographic region, and race, to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total adult population. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the complete sample of 1,016 adults. Smaller sub-groups will have larger error margins.

ABOUT CSI

The nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute is a think tank that serves as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business that can help to improve society. CSI has conducted more than half a dozen major surveys since 2003 on energy issues, including global warming, renewable energy and vehicle fuel-efficiency standards. CSI is the parent organization of 40mpg.org (http://www.40mpg.org). You can find the Civil Society Institute on the Web at http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org.

SOURCE Civil Society Institute, Newton, MA, and Washington, DC

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