NUCLEAR POWER RECONSIDERED.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

In 1999, 20 years after the Three Mile Island nuclear plant mishap, 81 percent of Americans told Gallup that nuclear power was very or somewhat safe. A near majority could not remember the name of the nuclear reactor involved. Most polls today show more support than opposition to building more nuclear power plants as a way of providing additional electricity. People think of nuclear power as clean, reliable, and safe, but they are still somewhat uneasy about it.

 
Question: All in all, from what you have 
heard or read, how safe are ...? 
 
                        1979   1999 
 
Nuclear power plants 
that produce electric 
power are very safe      21%    24% 
 
Somewhat safe            46     57 
 
Not so safe              30     17 
 
Source: ABC News/Louis Harris and Associates, 
April 1979, and the Gallup Organization, March 1999. 
 
Note: Table made from a bar graph. 
Question: Do you ...? 
 
Favor building more 
nuclear power plants 
as a way of meeting 
the need for 
electrical power       49% 
 
Oppose                 40% 
 
Not sure               11 
 
Source: Fox News/Opinion 
Dynamics, May 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from a pie chart. 
Question: Overall, do you favor or oppose ...? 
 
                                      Favor   Oppose 
 
Investments in new sources of 
energy such as solar, wind, 
and fuel                               91%       6% 
 
Mandating more energy-efficient 
appliances                             87        12 
 
Mandating more energy-efficient 
new buildings                          86        12 
 
Mandating more energy efficient 
cars                                   85        14 
 
Investing in new power 
generating plants                      83        13 
 
A federal government partnership 
with the auto industry working 
toward energy efficient cars           76        22 
 
Investing in more electrical 
transmission lines                     69        23 
 
Investing in more gas pipelines        64        29 
 
Drilling for ...