A survey released Wednesday by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said that a majority in the United Kingdom supported nuclear power, although close to half of the country was strongly opposed to a nuclear waste facility if it were to be built close to their homes.
The survey of 2,000 respondents, found that 56 percent of the public indicated they supported nuclear power. However 44 percent indicated they would protest a nuclear waste facility constructed within 10 miles of their homes.
Almost 60 percent indicated they would not support the United Kingdom importing radioactive waste from other countries for reprocessing or storage, while 17 percent indicated they would support such a program.
Of those in support of nuclear power, a strong majority – 82 percent – indicated their support was simply because it “will help keep the lights on,” reported the Daily News, which noted that 18 percent of Britain's electricity generation comes from nuclear power, sourced at 16 nuclear reactors in the country.
More than half – 56 percent – indicated their support was based on job creation. Fifty-four percent indicated they believed nuclear power was an asset to the economy.
Opposition had its reasons. The strongest complaint among those opposed to nuclear power was the risks with 77 percent of the opponents considering nuclear power too dangerous. Seventy-six percent of those opposed indicated nuclear power was harmful to the environment. Only 27 percent of those opposed indicated they felt nuclear power was too expensive.
The survey was conducted Sept. 23-25 by ICM Limited. It included 2,003 respondents, the report said.