Nuclear sentiment reflects lack of confidence in federal government
Public sentiment regarding who should manage nuclear waste storage facilities is shifting. According to new research, a majority of Americans now believes that an independent federal authority accountable to a board of directors would do a better job than a federal agency in managing a nuclear waste storage facility.
 |
| Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository. Credit: Daniel Mayer/Wikimedia Commons |
Today, 57 percent of Americans say they believe that an independent federal authority with a corporate-style board would better manage a waste storage facility; 37 percent prefer a "federal government agency," according to the national survey conducted by Bisconti Research Inc. with Quest Global Research for the Nuclear Energy Institute. In February 2013, 49 percent thought that a federal government agency would do a better job, compared with 43 percent for the independent federal authority.
The survey also found strong public support for consolidated storage of used nuclear fuel rods. These fuel rods are securely stored at nuclear power plants that generate one-fifth of U.S. electricity supplies. "The United States should retool its program for managing spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants to focus on consolidating the fuel rods at storage centers while the nation develops a permanent disposal facility," according to 84 percent of Americans surveyed. Nearly one-half -- or 47 percent -- of Americans strongly agree, with only five percent strongly disagreeing.
Consolidated storage of used nuclear fuel is among the recommendations made to the Department of Energy last year by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future. The commission also recommended creation of a new, congressionally-chartered federal corporation dedicated solely to implementing the nuclear waste management program.
"The shift reflects growing lack of public confidence in the federal government's ability to accomplish anything," said Bisconti Research President Ann Bisconti.
For more:
- see the
report
© 2013 FierceMarkets. All rights reserved. http://www.fierceenergy.com