6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Summer 2015 Ann S. Bisconti, PhD...
19
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Summer 2015 Ann S. Bisconti, PhD Bisconti Research, Inc. [email protected]
Transcript of 6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Summer 2015 Ann S. Bisconti, PhD...
6th Biennial National Survey ofU.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors
Summer 2015
Ann S. Bisconti, PhDBisconti Research, Inc.
6th Biennial National Survey ofU.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors
• May 26 through June 13, 2015• Full-time residents within 10-mile radius of U.S.
nuclear power plant sites• Excluded households with people who work at a
nuclear power plant• 60 sites X 18 = 1,080 total interviews• Margin of error +/- 3%• Interview 15-18 minutes• Phone interviews (80% landline, 20% cell)
2
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Member Service: Plant Neighbor Benchmark Reports
• NEI members added interviews in the 10-mile radius of 22 nuclear power plant sites.
• Objective: compare attitudes of the plant’s neighbors with attitudes nationally, in the region, and at sites with similar population density.
3
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
4
Topics Covered in the Survey and Report • Attitudes toward nuclear energy• Branding metrics• Impressions of plant and perceived community opinion• New reactor acceptability• Plant impact on local economy and jobs• Plant safety and environmental protection• Plant community involvement• Radiation• Waste management• Messages for using nuclear energy• How well informed on topics and how likely to seek information• Information sources used and rated• Energy education center visits and impact• Emergency communications6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
5
Plant Neighbors More Favorable to Nuclear Energy Than the General Public
Plant Neighbors June 2015
General Public March 2015
9 16814
33 42
50 27
1630
8368
Strongly favorSomewhat favorSomewhat opposeStrongly oppose
Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? (%)
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Plant Neighbors’ Favorable Impression of Nearby Nuclear Power Plant Continues
6
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
2015
2013
2011
2009
2007
2005
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
57
50
59
63
57
60
32
30
27
27
29
27
6
8
7
6
7
7
4
4
4
3
4
3
1
2
1
1
3
3
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorableVery unfavorable Don't know
Total Favorable
87
86
90
86
86
89
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
All Subgroups Have Favorable Impression of Nearby Nuclear Power Plant
7
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
Age: 55+
Age: 35-54
Age: 18-34
Women
Men
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
59
54
58
53
63
30
34
35
35
28
7
6
4
7
6
3
5
2
4
3
1
1
1
1
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorableVery unfavorable Don't know
Total Favorable
91
88
93
89
89
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
8
Favorable Impression of Nearby Plant Strongest Outside Northeast and at New Plant Interest Sites
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
New plant interest sites
West
South
Midwest
Northeast
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
61
64
62
58
48
27
27
29
34
35
7
5
7
4
10
5
5
2
3
6
1
1
2
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorableVery unfavorable Don't know
Total Favorable
83
92
91
91
88
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
69% View Adding a New ReactorAt Nearby Plant Site as Acceptable
9
If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant?
69%
28%
2%Not acceptable
Don’t know
Acceptable
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
10
New Reactor Acceptable to Majorities of Women, Men, and All Age Groups
If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant?
Age: 55+
Age: 35-54
Age: 18-34
Women
Men
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
70
69
69
62
78
27
30
29
34
21
3
1
2
4
1
Acceptable Not acceptable Don't know
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
New Reactor Most Acceptable Outside Northeast And at New Plant Interest Sites
11
If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant?
New plant interest sites
West
South
Midwest
Northeast
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
70
79
70
73
58
28
19
28
25
40
2
2
2
3
2
Acceptable Not acceptable Don't know
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Most Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors RateNearby Plant Safe
12
Still thinking about the nuclear power plant that is nearest to where you live, how safe do you regard this plant? Please think of a scale from "1" to "7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think it is, the higher the number you would give.
(Very safe) 7
6
5
(Middle) 4
3
2
(Very unsafe) 1
Don't know
39%
26%
18%
8%
3%
2%
3%
0%
83
9
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
High Confidence in the Company:Safety and Environmental Protection
13
Now, I’d like to ask you about the company that operates the nuclear power plant nearest to you. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about this company.
I am confident that the company has prepared the plant to withstand the most severe natural
events that may occur in this region
This company is doing a good job of protecting the environment
I am confident in this company’s ability to operate a nuclear power plant safely
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
50
51
58
32
32
32
7
7
4
7
6
4
4
4
2
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagreeDon't know
TotalAgree
90
83
82
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Favorable Opinions on Plant’s Impact on Economy/Jobs and Community Involvement
14
Now, I’d like to ask you about the company that operates the nuclear power plant nearest to you. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements about this company.
This company is involved in the community
There are good jobs for local people at the plant and in local businesses that provide
services to the plant
The plant helps the local economy
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
49
61
65
33
28
24
7
4
4
5
3
5
7
3
2
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagreeDon't know
TotalAgree
89
89
81
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Messages for Using Nuclear EnergyIn this Area Still Viewed Favorably
15
Please tell me if each of the following points is an excellent, good, fair, or poor reason to use nuclear energy in this area. How about...
Jobs and economic growth
Multi-layered back-up safety
Reliability and clean air
NRC monitors daily, will shut down
Made in America
46
54
54
55
56
28
28
28
27
25
Excellent Good Excellent & Good
81
82
82
82
75
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Plant Neighbors Feel Quite Well Informed, Some Gaps
16
Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well informed, or not well informed at all about the following topics?
New smaller nuclear power plant designs
How nuclear waste is stored
Nuclear power plant safety features
Nuclear energy
The nuclear power plant nearest to where you live
First thing to do in case of emergency at nearest plant
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
12
26
35
37
42
50
27
36
46
48
45
33
26
20
12
11
8
9
32
17
7
4
5
8
3
2
1
1
Very informed Somewhat informed Not too informed Not at all informedDon't know
Total Informed
83
87
84
81
61
39
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Plant Sources Most Credible for InformationAbout Nuclear Energy
17
Please tell me if you think each of the following would be an excellent, good, fair, or poor source of accurate and reliable information about nuclear energy.
Antinuclear groups
Social media (Twitter, YouTube or Facebook)
Your local elected officials
Environmental groups
Local news media
People you know who work at your local plant
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Booklets or brochures from local plant
Safety, radiation, or environmental experts at local plant
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
7
12
13
14
29
32
32
38
39
15
17
27
29
39
31
34
38
34
21
20
29
27
22
16
18
15
14
52
44
29
27
9
12
13
9
10
5
7
2
3
1
10
4
1
4
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't knowExcellent & Good
72
75
65
62
68
42
40
29
22
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Index of Favorability to Nuclear Energy:Plant Neighbors and General Public
18
Agree spent fuel rods managed safely
Rate nuclear power plants safe
Support building new plants
Support license renewal
Associate "a lot" with reliability
Associate "a lot" with clean air
Believe nuclear will be important
Believe public favors nuclear energy
Favor nuclear energy
76
82
73
91
72
59
90
66
83
65
64
62
86
55
51
78
33
68
INDEX SCORE 76.9 62.4
Plant Neighbors: Summer 2015 General Public: Spring 2015
Source: Bisconti Research Inc. national surveys of public opinion, Fall 2014 and Spring 2015.. Nationally representative samples of 1,000 U.S. adults interviewed by telephone, most recently both landline and cell phone, margin of error plus or minus three percentage points. *This measure was obtained in a separate survey conducted March 16-22, 2015.
*
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
Observations
19
• Plant neighbors (on average across all U.S. sites) continue to show extraordinary support for nuclear energy and the nearby plant.
• This support is essentially unchanged over a decade. • Support is grounded in favorable perceptions of the
plant’s safety, environmental protection, contribution to jobs and the economy, and outreach.
• Plant neighbors feel quite well informed and give highest trust to information from plant sources.
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015
