Opposition Rises to Increased Nuclear Power Use; Offshore Drilling Support Rebounds
Bruce Drake
Contributing Editor
Posted:
03/21/11
How long lasting are the effects of disasters on public opinion?
The nuclear plant crisis that resulted from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has prompted a spike in opposition in the U.S. to increased use of nuclear power, much like the rise in opposition to increased offshore oil drilling following the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that was set off last April by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform.
But almost a year later, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted March 17-20, support for more offshore oil drilling has rebounded.
Fifty-two percent of those surveyed by Pew following the drama at Japan's nuclear plants said they opposed increased use of nuclear power compared to 39 percent who supported it. That's a turnaround from February 2010, when 52 percent favored increased use of nuclear power and 41 percent were opposed.
Pew's measures of public opinion on nuclear plants has fluctuated over recent years between support and opposition for more use of nuclear power plants.
A Gallup poll conducted March 15 found that 47 percent opposed building more nuclear plants compared to 44 percent in favor, a turnaround from the 57 percent to 38 percent margin of support for more plants in a previous poll. But Gallup's polling figures shows more consistent support over the years for more plants. (Pew asked respondents if they favored or opposed "promoting the increased use of nuclear power" while Gallup asked if those surveyed favored or opposed "construction of nuclear power plants in the U.S."
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The nuclear plant crisis that resulted from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has prompted a spike in opposition in the U.S. to increased use of nuclear power, much like the rise in opposition to increased offshore oil drilling following the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that was set off last April by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform.
But almost a year later, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted March 17-20, support for more offshore oil drilling has rebounded.
Fifty-two percent of those surveyed by Pew following the drama at Japan's nuclear plants said they opposed increased use of nuclear power compared to 39 percent who supported it. That's a turnaround from February 2010, when 52 percent favored increased use of nuclear power and 41 percent were opposed.Pew's measures of public opinion on nuclear plants has fluctuated over recent years between support and opposition for more use of nuclear power plants.
A Gallup poll conducted March 15 found that 47 percent opposed building more nuclear plants compared to 44 percent in favor, a turnaround from the 57 percent to 38 percent margin of support for more plants in a previous poll. But Gallup's polling figures shows more consistent support over the years for more plants. (Pew asked respondents if they favored or opposed "promoting the increased use of nuclear power" while Gallup asked if those surveyed favored or opposed "construction of nuclear power plants in the U.S."
Follow Poll Watch on Twitter
Visit the Poll Watch Home Page and see all the latest polls in one place