Standardization: Light Water Reactors, OTA- 34. Office of Technology Assessment, Nuclear Proliferation and Safeguards, OTA-E-48, June 1977. Summary, OTA-E-148, March 1982. 35. Overseas Electrical Industry Survey Institute, Inc., Electric Power Industry in Japan 1981, December 1981. 36. Procter, Mary, "Notes on the French Nuclear Program," OTA memo to the files, based on conversations with the French nuclear attache a trip to the Tricastin nuclear plant and other sources, July 19, 1983. 37. S. M. Stoller Corp., Nuclear Supply Infrastructure: Viability Study, prepared for the Argonne National Laboratory, contract #31-109-38-6749, November 1982. 38. Stevenson, J. D., and Thomas, F. A., Selected Review of Foreign Licensing Practices for Nuclear Power Plants, NUREG/CR-2664, April 1982. 39. Surrey, John, and Thomas, Steve, "Worldwide Nuclear Plant Performance: Lessons for Technology Policy," Futures, February 1980. BAILLY NO NUKES MARBLE ताम 16 1 NUKE POWER PLANT SAVES GAS FOR 500,000 CARS A DAY REMOVE THE RISK, NOT THE PEOPLE TOMORROW'S ENERGY TODAY NUCLEAR POWER AMERICA NEEDS NUCLEAR POWER AND THE BREEDER Photo credit: OTA staff Buttons and bumperstickers from the controversy about nuclear power What Would It Take To Increase Public Acceptance of Nuclear Power 234 .234 Reduce Concerns Over Nuclear Accidents. ... .236 Minimize Linkage Between Nuclear Power and Weapons .239 Case Study 1-Maine Yankee: Economics as the Key to Public Support. ..240 Case Study 2-Diablo Canyon: Environmentalism and Industry Credibility. 242 244 245 Tables Table No. Page 31. History of Statewide Referendum Votes Dealing With Nuclear Powerplants 32. Major National Groups Influencing Public Opinion For and Against Nuclear Power 215 33. State Laws and Regulations Restricting Construction of Nuclear Powerplants 212 .....216 Figures Figure No. 39. Trends in Public Opinion on Nuclear Power Page 211 40. Relationship Between Judged Frequency and the Actual Number of Deaths per Year for 41 Causes of Death 223 41. Expert and Lay Judgments of Risk Plotted Against Technical Estimates of Annual Fatalities.. .224 Public Attitudes Toward INTRODUCTION: PUBLIC OPINION AND Public attitudes toward nuclear power have become increasingly negative over the past two decades, with the most recent polls indicating that a slight majority of Americans opposes further construction of reactors. During the 1950's, nuclear power was still in the early states of development, and pollsters did not even bother to survey the public on the issue. In the early 1960's, a few scattered protests against local plants gained national attention, but opinion polls indicated that less than a quarter of the public opposed nuclear power (41). From Earth Day in 1970 through the mid-1970's, opposition levels averaged 25 to 30 percent, indicating that substantial majorities of the public favored further nuclear development. However, by 1976, anti-nuclear referenda appeared on ballots in eight States. Polls taken between 1976 and 1979 indicated that slightly over half of the American public favored continued construction of nuclear plants in the United States in general, while about 28 percent were opposed and 18 percent unsure. The accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) in April 1979 had a sudden and dramatic impact on these attitudes. As shown in figure 39, the percentage of people who had been in favor of or uncertain about continued construction of reactors decreased immediately following the accident while the number opposed increased (57). In subsequent months, there was some return to previously held opinions, but opposition levels remained much higher than they had been. National polls taken since mid-1982 indicate a continued slow erosion in support for nuclear power. About a third of the public now supports construction of new plants in general, while over 50 percent are opposed (6,10,18). The accident at TMI appears to have accelerated a trend of even greater opposition to construction of new plants near to where those polled live. By the end of 1981, a large majority of those polled opposed construction of new plants in or near their communities. When compared with other energy options, including offshore oil drilling and coal plants, nuclear is now the least favored alternative. Despite the trend of declining support, the public's overall current attitude toward nuclear power can best be described as ambivalent. For example, a 1983 poll indicates that about 40 percent of the public thinks currently operating reactors are "mainly safe" while slightly over half think they are dangerous and 5 percent are "not sure." There is some evidence that the public looks to nuclear power as one solution to the Nation's long-term energy problems. In a recent survey, the majority of respondents believed that most U.S. energy needs would be supplied primarily by nuclear and solar over the next two decades, and over a third of those polled expected nuclear power to provide most of the Nation's energy after the year 2000 (14). The majority of Americans favor neither a halt to all new construction nor a permanent shutdown of all operating reactors. Opinion polls on this question have been verified by State ballot initiatives. As shown in table 31, most of the nuclear moratorium initiatives, and all referenda that would have shut down operating plants were defeated in 1976, 1980, and 1982. However, more of these initiatives have been approved in recent years, and many restrictions on nuclear waste disposa have been passed, reflecting public doubts abou the technology. and reduce operations until Same as '76 referenda Would shut down Maine Yankee Prohibits issuance of new bonds Total restrictive referenda placed on ballots: 14 SOURCES: Atomic Industrial Forum, State Codes. Outcome Vote split Defeated 30-70% Defeated 33-66% Defeated 29-71% Defeated 42-58% Defeated 42-58% 33-67% |