This document summarizes the results of the 6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors conducted in Summer 2015. It finds that nuclear power plant neighbors continue to be more favorable toward nuclear energy and their nearby plant than the general public. Specifically, plant neighbors have a very favorable impression of their nearby plant's operations and safety, support building new reactors, and feel the plant benefits the local economy and community. While plant neighbors feel quite well informed on most topics, they place the highest trust in information from the local nuclear power plant. In summary, the survey finds ongoing extraordinary support among nuclear power plant neighbors for nuclear energy and their nearby facility.

1. 6th Biennial National Survey of
U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors
Summer 2015
Ann S. Bisconti, PhD
Bisconti Research, Inc.
ann@bisconti.com

2. 6th Biennial National Survey of
U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors
• May 26 through June 13, 2015
• Full-time residents within 10-mile radius of U.S.
nuclear power plant sites
• Excluded households with people who work at a
nuclear power plant
• 60 sites X 18 = 1,080 total interviews
• Margin of error +/- 3%
• Interview 15-18 minutes
• Phone interviews (80% landline, 20% cell)
2
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

3. Member Service: Plant Neighbor
Benchmark Reports
• NEI members added interviews in the 10-mile
radius of 22 nuclear power plant sites.
• Objective: compare attitudes of the plant’s
neighbors with attitudes nationally, in the
region, and at sites with similar population
density.
3
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

4. 4
Topics Covered in the Survey and Report
• Attitudes toward nuclear energy
• Branding metrics
• Impressions of plant and perceived community opinion
• New reactor acceptability
• Plant impact on local economy and jobs
• Plant safety and environmental protection
• Plant community involvement
• Radiation
• Waste management
• Messages for using nuclear energy
• How well informed on topics and how likely to seek information
• Information sources used and rated
• Energy education center visits and impact
• Emergency communications
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

5. 5
Plant Neighbors More Favorable to
Nuclear Energy Than the General Public
9 168
14
33 42
50 27
Plant Neighbors
June 2015
General Public
March 2015
16
30
83
68
Strongly favor
Somewhat favor
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the
use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? (%)
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

6. Plant Neighbors’ Favorable Impression of
Nearby Nuclear Power Plant Continues
6
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your
general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable,
somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
57
50
59
63
57
60
32
30
27
27
29
27
6
8
7
6
7
7
4
4
4
3
4
3
1
2
1
1
3
3
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
2015
2013
2011
2009
2007
2005
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorable
Very unfavorable Don't know
Total
Favorable
87
86
90
86
86
89
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

7. All Subgroups Have Favorable Impression of
Nearby Nuclear Power Plant
7
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your
general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable,
somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
59
54
58
53
63
30
34
35
35
28
7
6
4
7
6
3
5
2
4
3
1
1
1
1
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Age: 55+
Age: 35-54
Age: 18-34
Women
Men
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorable
Very unfavorable Don't know
Total
Favorable
91
88
93
89
89
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

8. 8
Favorable Impression of Nearby Plant
Strongest Outside Northeast
Thinking of the nuclear power plant closest to where you live, would you describe your
general impression of this plant and the way it has operated recently as very favorable,
somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
61
64
58
62
48
27
27
34
29
35
7
5
5
6
10
5
5
3
2
6
1
1
2
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
New plant interest sites
West
South
Midwest
Northeast
Very favorable Somewhat favorable Somewhat unfavorable
Very unfavorable Don't know
Total
Favorable
83
91
92
91
88
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

9. 69% View Adding a New Reactor
At Nearby Plant Site as Acceptable
9
If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or
not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear
power plant?
69%
28%
2%Not acceptable
Don’t know
Acceptable
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

10. 10
New Reactor Acceptable to Majorities of
Women, Men, and All Age Groups
If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or
not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear
power plant?
70
69
69
62
78
27
30
29
34
21
3
1
2
4
1
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Age: 55+
Age: 35-54
Age: 18-34
Women
Men
Acceptable Not acceptable Don't know
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

11. New Reactor Most Acceptable Outside Northeast
11
If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or
not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear
power plant?
70
79
73
69
58
28
19
24
28
40
2
2
3
3
2
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
New plant interest sites
West
South
Midwest
Northeast
Acceptable Not acceptable Don't know
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

12. Most Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors Rate
Nearby Plant Safe
12
Still thinking about the nuclear power plant that is nearest to where you live, how safe do
you regard this plant? Please think of a scale from "1" to "7," where "1" means very
unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think it is, the higher the number you
would give.
39%
26%
18%
8%
3%
2%
3%
0%
(Very safe) 7
6
5
(Middle) 4
3
2
(Very unsafe) 1
Don't know
83
9
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

13. High Confidence in the Company:
Safety and Environmental Protection
13
Now, I’d like to ask you about the company that operates the nuclear power plant nearest
to you. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or
strongly disagree with the following statements about this company.
50
51
58
32
32
32
7
7
4
7
6
4
4
4
2
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
I am confident that the company has
prepared the plant to withstand the most
severe natural events that may occur in
this region
This company is doing a good job of
protecting the environment
I am confident in this company’s ability to
operate a nuclear power plant safely
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree Don't know
Total
Agree
90
83
82
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

14. Favorable Opinions on Plant’s Impact on
Economy/Jobs and Community Involvement
14
Now, I’d like to ask you about the company that operates the nuclear power plant nearest
to you. Please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or
strongly disagree with the following statements about this company.
49
61
65
33
28
24
7
4
4
5
3
5
7
3
2
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
This company is involved in the
community
There are good jobs for local people at
the plant and in local businesses that
provide services to the plant
The plant helps the local economy
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree Don't know
Total
Agree
89
89
81
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

15. Messages for Using Nuclear Energy
In this Area Still Viewed Favorably
15
Please tell me if each of the following points is an excellent, good, fair, or poor reason to
use nuclear energy in this area. How about...
46
54
54
55
56
28
28
28
27
25
Jobs and economic
growth
Multi-layered back-up
safety
Reliability and clean air
NRC monitors daily, will
shut down
Made in America
Excellent Good Excellent
& Good
81
82
82
82
75
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

16. Plant Neighbors Feel Quite Well Informed,
Some Gaps
16
Do you feel very well informed, somewhat well informed, not too well informed, or not
well informed at all about the following topics?
12
26
35
37
42
50
27
36
46
48
45
33
26
20
12
11
8
9
32
17
7
4
5
8
3
2
1
1
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
New smaller nuclear power plant
designs
How nuclear waste is stored
Nuclear power plant safety features
Nuclear energy
The nuclear power plant nearest to
where you live
First thing to do in case of emergency at
nearest plant
Very informed Somewhat informed Not too informed
Not at all informed Don't know
Total
Informed
83
87
84
81
61
39
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

17. Plant Sources Most Credible for Information
About Nuclear Energy
17
Please tell me if you think each of the following would be an excellent, good, fair, or poor
source of accurate and reliable information about nuclear energy.
7
12
13
14
29
32
32
38
39
15
17
27
29
39
31
34
38
34
21
20
29
27
22
16
18
15
14
52
44
29
27
9
12
13
9
10
5
7
2
3
1
10
4
1
4
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Antinuclear groups
Social media (Twitter, YouTube or Facebook)
Your local elected officials
Environmental groups
Local news media
People you know who work at your local plant
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Booklets or brochures from local plant
Safety, radiation, or environmental experts at local plant
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't know
Excellent
& Good
72
75
65
62
68
42
40
29
22
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

18. Index of Favorability to Nuclear Energy:
Plant Neighbors and General Public
18
76
82
73
91
72
59
90
66
83
Agree spent fuel rods managed safely
Rate nuclear power plants safe
Support building new plants
Support license renewal
Associate "a lot" with reliability
Associate "a lot" with clean air
Believe nuclear will be important
Believe public favors nuclear energy
Favor nuclear energy
65
64
62
86
55
51
78
33
68
INDEX SCORE 76.9 62.4
Plant Neighbors: Summer 2015 General Public: Spring 2015
Source: Bisconti Research Inc. national surveys of public opinion, Fall 2014 and Spring 2015.. Nationally representative samples of 1,000
U.S. adults interviewed by telephone, most recently both landline and cell phone, margin of error plus or minus three percentage points.
*This measure was obtained in a separate survey conducted March 16-22, 2015.
*
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015

19. Observations
19
• Plant neighbors (on average across all U.S. sites)
continue to show extraordinary support for nuclear
energy and the nearby plant.
• This support is essentially unchanged over a decade.
• Support is grounded in favorable perceptions of the
plant’s safety, environmental protection,
contribution to jobs and the economy, and outreach.
• Plant neighbors feel quite well informed and give
highest trust to information from plant sources.
6th Biennial National Survey of U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors 2015