In a CBS News Poll released Tuesday, more than two thirds of
Americans surveyed considered U.S. nuclear plants to be “generally safe,” but
support for new reactors fell to its lowest level in ten years.
During the telephone survey of 1,022 adults nationwide
conducted between March 19 and Monday, 43 percent of respondents indicated they
supported building more nuclear plants. That compares to 57 percent in 2008.
When asked about construction of new nuclear plants in their community, only 35
percent approved.
The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage
points.
Respondents also expressed skepticism regarding the
government’s ability to respond to a nuclear accident, with only 35 percent
saying the government is prepared. Sixty five percent indicated they are at
least somewhat concerned about such an accident occurring.
That said, 47 percent said the benefits of nuclear
power outweigh the risks, compared to 38 percent who said they do not. When it
comes to the multiple-reactor emergency at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
plant that has prompted recent scrutiny of nuclear power, a majority of
respondents – 53 percent – said the accident had not made them more afraid of
an accident here.