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New Poll Finds Strong Support for Nuclear Energy

By Eric McErlain
From the NEI press office:
A majority of Americans believe nuclear energy will play an important role in meeting the country's electricity needs, and they support policies being considered as part of national energy policy legislation for building new nuclear plants, according to a nationwide survey.

Of the 1,000 adults surveyed by Bisconti Research Inc./NOP World(1):

1. 83 percent said nuclear energy will be "important" in meeting America's electricity needs in the years ahead. Half of those surveyed characterized it as "very important."

2. 80 percent of the respondents said the U.S. Department of Energy and electric utilities should work together to develop new state-of-the-art nuclear power plants to meet growing electricity demand. "Strong" agreement has increased by 18 percentage points over the past year, to 55 percent.

3. 64 percent support providing financial incentives for these advanced design nuclear power plants. This assistance could include provisions similar to those currently being considered by the U.S. Senate, such as loan guarantees and/or tax credits.

4. 79 percent agreed that nuclear energy's importance in meeting clean air regulations should be recognized in state and federal energy and environmental policy. Nuclear power plants generate large amounts of electricity without emitting any air pollutants or greenhouse gases, making these facilities among the most valuable resources in meeting the Clean Air Act and in emerging programs to reduce greenhouse gases.

(1) Telephone survey of 1,000 adults nationwide by Bisconti Research Inc/NOP World, May 5-9, 2005, margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.
To read a copy of the report, click here (PDF).

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