B I S C O N T I R E S E A R C H, I NC.

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1 B I S C O N T I R E S E A R C H, I NC. New Findings: US Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy Press Release 64 Percent Favor Nuclear Energy, October 2017 Contact Dr. Ann S. Bisconti ann@bisconti.com At this time, when attention is focused on nuclear energy s unique contribution as both a baseload and clean air electricity source, the latest polling shows that a majority of the public favors nuclear energy. Sixty-four percent of Americans favor the use of nuclear energy; percent are opposed, and 12 percent have no opinion. While many take middle positions, those who strongly favor nuclear energy outnumber those strongly opposed by 26 percent to eight percent. Bisconti Research, Inc. conducted the survey online with Quest Global Research October 2-5, This independent survey sponsored by Bisconti Research updates 34 years of trend data from polls sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute. These polls are the only source of continuous data on public opinion about nuclear energy asking the same questions in approximately the same question context over many years. Long-Term Change, Short-Term Stability Public opinion has been quite stable during the past five years and is dramatically more favorable than it was three decades ago (see attached graph). In 1983, the public was divided, with 49 percent in favor, compared with 64 percent now, and 46 percent opposed, compared with percent now. Similarly, perceptions of nuclear power plant safety tend to be much more favorable than in 1984, when the trend question on safety was first asked. Now, 55 percent rate nuclear power plants safe (5 to 7 on a 1 to 7 scale); 20 percent rate them unsafe (1 to 3 on the 1 to 7 scale). In 1984, 35 percent rated them safe, and 46 percent rated them unsafe. Other opinions about nuclear energy continue to show solid majority support: 71 percent believe that nuclear energy should be very or somewhat important in meeting the nation s electricity needs in the years ahead; 18 percent believe it should be not too important or not at all important. 75 percent agree with license renewal for nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards; 14 percent disagree. 70 percent agree that electric utilities should prepare now so that new nuclear power plants could be built if needed in the next decade; 18 percent disagree. 55 percent agree we should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future; 29 disagree. Bisconti Research, Inc. (BRi) is a leading public opinion and communications research company with unique expertise in energy issues. 1

2 Apr-16 Oct-16 Oct-17 Trend : Annual Averages Until 2016 Percent Who Favor and Oppose Nuclear Energy Favor Oppose Favorability to Nuclear Energy: 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? Fall 2017 Fall 2016 Strongly favor 26 Strongly favor Somewhat favor 38 Somewhat favor 40 Somewhat oppose 16 Somewhat oppose 20 Strongly oppose 8 Strongly oppose 12 Don't know 12 Don't know 4 TOTAL FAVOR 64 TOTAL FAVOR 65 TOTAL OPPOSE TOTAL OPPOSE 32 2

3 Favorability to Nuclear Energy: Demographics 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? TOTAL Men Women Age: Age: Age: 50+ College graduate Not college graduate Democrat Republican Independent Conservative Moderate Liberal Favor Oppose Don't know % % 50% 75% 100% 3

4 B I S C O N T I R E S E A R C H, I NC G R E Y S T O N E S T R E E T C H E V Y C H A S E, MD T EL: F AX: QUESTIONNAIRE FALL 2017 U.S. PUBLIC OPINION TRACKING SURVEY Source: Bisconti Research, Inc. with Quest Global Research. 1,000 online interviews of nationally representative U.S. adults October 2-5, 2017, margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points. Numbers may add from due to rounding. 1. Are you Male 49 Female Is your age? Select one answer (Net) to 24 9 to to (NET) to or older 13 (Don t know/no answer) 1 3. Is your ethnicity? Select one answer Hispanic 8 Native American 1 African-American 10 Asian 4 Caucasian or White 74 Other 3 (Don t know/no answer) 1 4

5 4. What was the highest level of school you completed? Select one answer Not college graduate 54 Some high school or less 5 Graduated high school 24 Technical/vocational school 6 Some college, associate degree 20 College graduate + 45 Graduated college, bachelor s degree 29 Graduate school 16 (Don t know, no answer) 1 5. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as? Select one answer A Democrat 33 An Independent 29 Republican 28 Or something else (specify) 2 (None of the above) 0 (Don t know/no answer) 8 6. Following are some considerations for the way electricity is produced. For each one, indicate if that consideration for the way electricity is produced is of top importance to you, medium importance to you, or low importance to you. Select one answer for each item (Don t Top Medium Low Know) Affordable electricity Reliable electricity Clean air Efficiency Energy security Economic growth Impact on climate change and global warming (Split sample) Job creation Climate change solution (Split sample)

6 7. How important do you think nuclear energy should be in meeting this nation s electricity needs in the years ahead? Do you think nuclear energy should be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? Select one answer Important 71 Very important 36 Somewhat important 35 Not important 18 Not too important 12 Not important at all 6 (Don t know) Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of the following statements. Select one answer for each statement Total Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly (Don t AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know) When their current operating license expires, we should renew the license of nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards Electric utilities should prepare now so that new nuclear power plants could be built if needed in the next decade We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future 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? Select one answer Favor 64 Strongly favor 26 Somewhat favor 38 Oppose Somewhat oppose 16 Strongly oppose 8 (Don t know) 12 6

7 10. Thinking about the nuclear power plants that are operating now, how safe do you regard these plants? Please select one number on a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 means very unsafe and 7 means very safe. The safer you think they are, the higher the number you would give. High safety rating (5-7) 55 7 Very safe Middle (4) Very unsafe 6 Low safety rating (1-3) 20 (Don t know) Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement. Total Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly (Don t AGREE Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know) We should take advantage of all zero-carbon energy sources, including nuclear, hydro, and renewable energy, to produce the electricity we need while limiting greenhouse gas emissions a. Nuclear energy produces 60% of zero-carbon electricity in the United States. And given that nuclear energy is the only electricity source that provides both clean air and continuous 24-7 electricity, do you think nuclear energy should be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all in the future? Select one answer Important 79 Very important 40 Somewhat important 40 Not important 12 Not too important 9 Not important at all 3 (Don t know) 9 7

8 12. Are your political views? Select one answer Conservative 36 Very conservative 15 Somewhat conservative 21 Moderate 34 Liberal 23 Somewhat liberal 15 Very liberal 8 (Don t know) 7 Thank you! 8