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Tracking the nuclear ‘mood’ in the United States: Introducing a long term measure of public opinion about nuclear energy using aggregate survey data

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  • Gupta, Kuhika
  • Nowlin, Matthew C.
  • Ripberger, Joseph T.
  • Jenkins-Smith, Hank C.
  • Silva, Carol L.

Abstract

This study uses aggregate polling data to develop and validate a new measure of public support for nuclear energy that allows for the identification of factors that influence the evolution of opinion over relatively long periods of time. In addition to focusing events, such as a significant accident, this new measure shows that energy security risk has consistently driven support for nuclear energy in the US. When oil, gas, and coal were relatively expensive and scarce, support for nuclear energy went up, and when they were relatively inexpensive and abundant, it fell. This finding adds important nuance to our understanding of public support for nuclear energy in the past, and the prospects for a new “nuclear renaissance” in the future1.

Suggested Citation

  • Gupta, Kuhika & Nowlin, Matthew C. & Ripberger, Joseph T. & Jenkins-Smith, Hank C. & Silva, Carol L., 2019. "Tracking the nuclear ‘mood’ in the United States: Introducing a long term measure of public opinion about nuclear energy using aggregate survey data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:133:y:2019:i:c:s0301421519304665
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110888
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    1. J. R. Lovering & S. H. Baker & T. R. Allen, 2021. "Social License in the Deployment of Advanced Nuclear Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Cotterman, Turner & Small, Mitchell J. & Wilson, Stephen & Abdulla, Ahmed & Wong-Parodi, Gabrielle, 2021. "Applying risk tolerance and socio-technical dynamics for more realistic energy transition pathways," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    3. Florentina Paraschiv & Dima Mohamad, 2020. "The Nuclear Power Dilemma—Between Perception and Reality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Gupta, Kuhika & Ripberger, Joseph T. & Fox, Andrew S. & Jenkins-Smith, Hank C. & Silva, Carol L., 2021. "The future of nuclear energy in India: Evidence from a nationwide survey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    5. Yamagata, Hiroshi, 2024. "Public opinion on nuclear power plants in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America: A prescription for peculiar Japan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    6. Kwon, O. Hwang & Vu, Katie & Bhargava, Naman & Radaideh, Mohammed I. & Cooper, Jacob & Joynt, Veda & Radaideh, Majdi I., 2024. "Sentiment analysis of the United States public support of nuclear power on social media using large language models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    7. Arndt, Christoph, 2023. "Climate change vs energy security? The conditional support for energy sources among Western Europeans," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

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