When global climate change became an issue, a lot of people decided that nuclear energy would once again become a viable alternative to the use of fossil fuels. But the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan threw cold water on that premise, and since then the popularity of nuclear power has been decreasing (see top chart). A new Gallup Poll (done between March 2nd and 6th of a random national sample of 1,019 adults, with a 4 point margin of error) shows that currently about 54% of Americans oppose nuclear power. This is the first time Gallup has found a majority opposing nuclear power.
The second chart shows the percentage in each political division that favor the use of nuclear power. Note that only 34% of Democrats and 46% of Independents support nuclear power. The only political division with a majority supporting nuclear power is Republicans (53%).
Americans are starting to believe that there are affordable, renewable, and non-polluting alternatives (solar, wind, wave, etc.) to the use of either nuclear power or fossil fuel power.
I have opposed nuclear energy for over 30 years because I knew there was no way the waste generated could be safely disposed of and storing it underground without proper oversight would only allow the poisons from the spent fuel to seep into the earth. Unless there is a safe way to dispose of nuclear waste (and there probably never will be) I cannot support it as an alternative energy source.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best kept secrets in 'merica is that the most radioactive crap that is thrown into landfills is coal ash from power plants!!!!
ReplyDeleteThrow the damn anti-science rePUKEians out of power, stop shoveling money down the military spending hole! and fund education and science, then we can find SOLUTIONS instead of just banning stuff!