2 Out of 3 Americans Favor Building Nuclear Power Plants
Posted June 12th, 2008 at 9.24am in Energy and Environment.
A poll released by Zogby International shows that a strong majority (67%) of Americans favor building nuclear power plants. Republicans are most favorably disposed to nuclear energy (85%), with Independents not far behind (70%). Democrats, although less enthusiastic about building new plants, still have a plurality (49%) in support.
The poll also found that Americans want to build nuclear power plants more than oil, coal, or natural gas plants. A plurality (43%) of those polled said they favor nuclear power stations in their community over any alternative.
This poll suggests that the decades of propaganda from the anti-nuclear left has failed to terrify most Americans about nuclear energy. Americans understand that nuclear energy is completely safe and environmentally sound. Despite rhetoric about Three Mile Island, no American has ever died or been injured by nuclear energy. These facts seem to have been absorbed by the public and reflected in their good opinion of nuclear power.
Proponents of nuclear energy should leverage this growing consensus and continue to advocate the economic viability of nuclear energy. In a time where gas prices have risen above $4 nationally and electricity prices are running rampant, consumers are demanding affordable energy. Rapidly growing electricity demands will only make the problem worse without a broad expansion of nuclear power.
- Author: Nick Loris
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June 13, 2008 John Sweeney, Buchanan N.Y. writes:
Nick, a poll by Bisconti about 2 years ago found 80% of people living within 10 miles of existing nuclear plants supported those plants.
It has not been about the will of the people in general, it has been about the curious dynamic of perhaps 1% of the people, identifying themselves as antinuclear activists, and mobilizing perhaps 15% of the people via email lists.
These antinuclear core lists then became valuable prizes for eager Democratic candidates in 2006 Democratic primaries, causing candidates to avow sentiments they did not really harbor, in order to win those primaries.
The Upshot?….. We now have “Antinuclear” Democratic incumbents in New York state, supposedly governing on behalf of an overwhelmingly pro-nuclear populace.
Manhattanville College took two polls, in 2007 & 2008, and found that in 2007, 67% had no qualms about the further operation of Indian Point nuclear plant, while in 2008, that figure grew to 70%.
However, the will of the rest of us is of no importance to the obstructionist few. They remember how Lenin took Russia in 1917, and live in hope.