Support for nuclear energy in the United States is dropping

March 30, 2015 | By Jaclyn Brandt

Perception of nuclear energy for electricity saw a small drop in the United States in 2014, with 51 percent of Americans now for it, according to a poll by Gallup. The poll also found that 43 percent of Americans oppose using nuclear energy for electricity. The poll was conducted as part of Gallup's Environmental poll, which they have been conducting for the past 20 years.

Click on image to enlarge. Credit: Gallup

Although 51 percent is similar to what Gallup has seen in recent years, that number is down from the peak of 62 percent five years ago, and up from a low of 46 percent in 2001. When the survey was last conducted, in 2013, 53 percent of Americans said they favor nuclear energy for electricity.

"The high point in support for the use of nuclear power, in 2010, was recorded shortly after President Barack Obama announced that the federal government would provide loan guarantees for the construction of two nuclear reactors, the first to be built in the U.S. in three decades," Gallup explained of the 62 percent ranking that year.

Besides the fact that more than half of Americans surveyed support nuclear energy, 35 percent also said that the United States should put more emphasis on nuclear power -- 33 percent said there should be less emphasis and 28 percent said the emphasis should stay the same.

In the same survey, 79 percent of Americans said there should be more emphasis on solar, 70 percent want more emphasis on wind energy, 55 percent want more emphasis on natural gas, 41 percent want more emphasis on oil, and 28 percent want more emphasis on coal.

Although support for nuclear energy has stayed mostly steady, it continues on a slow downward trend. However, the survey found that support for renewable energy has increased over the years.

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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/support-nuclear-energy-united-states-dropping/2015-03-30