Washington (Platts)--20Aug2007

Eighty-two percent of 1,152 people polled who live near US power
reactors support nuclear power, and 71% say the construction of a new unit
near them would be acceptable if it's needed to supply electricity, according
to a public opinion poll the Nuclear Energy Institute released August 20.
	The survey, which was done by Bisconti Research Inc. and Quest Global
Research Group, only polled residents living within 10 miles of an operating
power reactor who were not electric company employees. NEI commissioned the
poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
	Near areas actually being considered for new reactors, 77% of
respondents said they would find a new a reactor acceptable, according to Ann
Bisconti, president of Bisconti Research and a former NEI vice president.
	In response to the poll, Public Citizen spokeswoman Michele Boyd said
support for nuclear energy in communities near existing power reactors is
linked more to tax revenue and other benefits than to the type of fuel used to
generate electricity. There generally is support for nuclear power near
reactor sites, but that's prompted mainly by the plant's monetary benefits to
the community, she said. Public Citizen opposes nuclear power.