Japanese Nuclear Problems Changing American Opinions

Just a couple of weeks ago the support for building new nuclear power plants was pretty strong in the United States. A Gallup Poll taken early this month (March 3-6) showed that 57% of the population believed nuclear power plants were a viable alternative for producing energy, and only 38% believed that it was not. But the growing problems being experienced by the Japanese with some of their nuclear plants proceeding toward a meltdown after being hit by an earthquake and a tsunami, is changing that view in this country.

A new poll taken on March 15th of 1004 adults (with a 4 point margin of error) shows that support has eroded significantly. It now stands at 44% in favor and 47% opposed with 9% having no opinion. That's a drop of 13% for those in favor of nuclear power and an increase of 9% for those opposed to it.

This means the Japanese nuclear problems have severely crippled any hopes of building new nuclear plants in the United States any time soon. It's going to take a concerted effort by nuclear proponents to change enough minds to make new plants politically possible now.

There is a significant difference between the sexes, the political parties, and education levels. Here's how that breaks down:

MEN
approve...............55%
oppose...............36%

WOMEN
approve...............34%
oppose...............56%

DEMOCRATS
approve...............32%
oppose...............61%

REPUBLICANS
approve...............62%
oppose...............33%

INDEPENDENTS
approve...............43%
oppose...............45%

HIGH SCHOOL OR LESS
approve...............31%
oppose...............56%

SOME COLLEGE
approve...............46%
oppose...............46%

COLLEGE GRADUATE
approve...............57%
oppose...............38%

POSTGRADUATE
approve...............63%
oppose...............33%