美國民眾支持核能的比例創新高。一份最新的民調顯示，有74%的民眾支持核能，接近70%的人說，美國「絕對」要建更多的核能設備。
美國核能研究院（Nuclear Energy Institute，NEI）3月18-21日間委託碧斯康提財團法人研究中心與GfK Roper共同調查全美1000位公民，結果顯示民意對核能發電的偏好已隨著時間改變：從1983年的49%到現今的 74%。
84%的受訪民眾認為現在應該要開始蓋新的核能電廠，好為接下來的十年做準備。87%的受訪民眾相信接下來核能發電的重要性將會提高。
「民眾因關心未來的能源需求，所以高度支持核能發電，這同時也呼應歐巴馬總統和其他國家元首支持核能的聲明。」碧斯康提財團法人研究中心總經理安．碧斯康提 （Ann Bisconti）說。「總統在喬治亞對新核能反應器的貸款提出保證，這無疑提高了民眾對這個議題的關心。」
碧斯康提博士在美國核能研究院、世界能源組織和國際原能會的贊助下，教授危機傳播與溝通和核能議題的傳播，如核廢料、輻射等。
這份調查顯示出，公眾對就業機會和經濟發展的關心遠高於能源和環境議題，對空氣污染的關心也高於全球氣候變遷，雖然有部份的受訪者高度關切氣候變遷。 這份調查也發現，為了縮減全球溫室氣體排放，民眾廣泛支持核子工業。
根據調查，強烈支持核電的受訪民眾現為強烈反對的三倍(33%：10%)。
同時，美國民眾高度支持(72%)聯邦政府積極鼓勵投資太陽能、風力、進階核能電廠和其他替代能源，以因應全球氣候變遷。
調查顯示民眾對核能電廠的信心也達到創紀錄高點，在7級分的評分中，73%的民眾給了5分以上，相較於1984年只有35%民眾給5分以上。82%的民眾同意美國核電廠是「安全保險的」。
87%支持讓符合聯邦安全標準的核電廠延役。
目前分布於美國31州的運轉中核能電廠，供給了全國20%的電力──而這些電廠只有10%的發電率。
然而，即使有蠻多受訪者(59%)信任核能業者對核能電廠安裝核反應爐的安全性，但是十個人裡面有八個強烈希望，在最終核廢儲存場完工以前，聯邦政府可以將使用過的核燃料棒運離核電廠集中保管。
調查顯示，民眾強烈支持(79%)將用過核燃料回收再利用於發電，以增加額外發電量，並減少須永久棄置的核廢料數量。
A record-high 74 percent of Americans surveyed in a new national poll support nuclear energy and a similar majority of 70 percent says the United States should "definitely build more" nuclear energy facilities.
The survey of 1,000 adults March 18-21 by Bisconti Research Inc./Gfk Roper is the latest in a series of polls commissioned by the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry association.
Surveys conducted by Bisconti Research show a change in the public's view of nuclear energy over time. Favorability has climbed from 49 percent in 1983 to 74 percent today.
This most recent survey found that 84 percent of Americans believe that electric utilities should begin preparation now to build new nuclear plants if needed in the next decade.
Eighty-seven percent believe nuclear energy "will play an important role in meeting this nation's electricity needs" in the years to come.
"This unprecedented support for nuclear energy is being driven largely by people's concerns for meeting future energy demand and environmental goals, but it coincides with statements by President Obama and other national leaders who have voiced strong support for more nuclear power plants," said Ann Bisconti, PhD, president of Bisconti Research Inc.
"The President's State of the Union speech and his subsequent announcement of federal loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors in Georgia clearly has elevated the issue in peoples' minds," Bisconti said.
Dr. Bisconti teaches about communicating on nuclear issues, such as waste and radiation, at Fundamentals of Nuclear Communications, a course sponsored by Nuclear Energy Institute. She also teaches about ongoing and crisis communications at World Nuclear University, a summer institute for future leaders sponsored by the World Nuclear Organization with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The March survey found that the public is far more concerned about job creation and economic growth than energy and the environment at the present time. Moreover, air pollution is a greater concern than global climate change, although some respondents care very much about climate change.
The survey found broad support for nuclear industry actions to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
The survey shows that, among respondents with the most intense feelings about nuclear energy, those who strongly support nuclear energy exceed those who strongly oppose it by a three-to-one margin (33 percent to 10 percent).
The poll also shows that Americans are highly supportive (72 percent) of the federal government playing an active role in encouraging investment in solar, wind, advanced-design nuclear power plants or other energy technologies that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases linked to the threat of global climate change.
Public confidence in nuclear plant safety also is at record levels. When asked to rate the safety of nuclear power plants on a 1-to-7 scale, 73 percent gave ratings of 5 or above, 5 compared with 35 percent in 1984, when the question was first asked. Also, 82 percent agreed that U.S. nuclear power plants are "safe and secure."
This confidence is evidenced by support of a record-high 87 percent for license renewal for nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards.
Nuclear power plants operating in 31 states produce 20 percent of the nation's electricity, even though they constitute only 10 percent of installed electric generating capacity.
Although the public is somewhat confident in the nuclear industry's ability to safely store used reactor fuel at nuclear power plant sites (59 percent), eight out of 10 of those surveyed expressed a strong desire for the federal government to move used nuclear fuel rods to centralized, secure storage facilities away from the plant sites until a permanent disposal facility is ready.
The survey showed strong support (79 percent) for recycling used fuel from nuclear energy facilities to generate additional electricity and ultimately reduce the amount of waste that must be permanently disposed.
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