Support for nuclear power has drifted lower since a peak of 62 percent in 2010, sliding to 51 percent, poll taker Gallup said Monday.
Poll takers indicated the percentage opposed to nuclear power held steady from 2013 to 2015 at 43 percent. But opposition is in the vicinity of its 20-year peak of 48 percent.
Except or 2001, when 48 percent indicated they were opposed to nuclear power and 46 percent indicated they approved, there has traditionally been a gap between the those indicating support and those indicating opposition. That year was also the only year out of the past 20 in which the percentage indicating opposition was greater than the percentage indicating support for nuclear power.
The largest gap in the past 20 years was in 2010 when 62 indicated support and 33 indicated opposition — a gap of 29 percent points.
Gallup noted that support as indicated in the annual Environment poll, which was conducted March 5-8 this year, shows surprising stability between 2011 and 2012 at 57 percent both years. The pattern is “notable given that Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster took place shortly after polling in 2011,” Gallup said.
The survey also asked respondents where the United States should put its emphasis in terms of power sources. Solar came out clearly ahead with 79 percent indicating the United States should put more emphasis on it. Seventy percent indicated wind power was where the United States should put its emphasis. Thirty-five percent indicated nuclear power should have more emphasis, while coal burning garnered the least support at 28 percent.
Given the rapid decline in the price or natural gas, the public was surprisingly cool toward natural gas. Since 2013, those indicating “more emphasis” should be put on natural gas has dropped from 65 percent to 55 percent.
Support for solar and wind power is stronger among Democrats and Independents than Republicans, while Republicans show stronger support than the other two groups for natural gas, oil, nuclear power and coal.
Among Republicans, 47 percent indicated more emphasis should be placed on nuclear power. Among Independents and Democrats, 34 percent and 24 percent, respectively, indicated more emphasis should be placed on nuclear power.
Gallup said support for natural gas, while positive, has been sliding, which could be a reflection of a divided support for fracking.