Americans remain ‘broadly resistant’ to reactors in their area
Most Americans continue to prefer that the US put more emphasis on solar and wind power for domestic energy production, but at the same time, support for greater emphasis on nuclear power has risen to its highest point to date, at 46%, Gallup has said.
According to the polling company, fewer now hold the view that solar and wind should be emphasised than in any of five measurements over the past 13 years.
Levels of support for increased use of fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas remain well below their highs.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to favour more emphasis on renewable energy sources, while Republicans are more likely to back greater emphasis on fossil fuels. Cross-party views are most similar on nuclear energy.
Even as there is growing support for more emphasis on nuclear energy, most Americans remain broadly resistant to the construction of a nuclear power plant in their area, Gallup said.
The latest findings are from Gallup’s March 2-18 annual Environment poll.
When asked whether the US should put more emphasis, less emphasis or about the same emphasis as it does now on producing domestic energy from each of six sources, 66% of Americans prefer more emphasis on solar energy and 55% on wind. Though still majorities, both have slipped considerably since the previous reading in 2021, with solar down seven percentage points and wind down 11 points.
Meanwhile, nuclear energy is the only one of the six sources to see support grow since 2021, rising seven points to 46%, making it the plurality response. “This shift is notable given that preferences for nuclear energy had historically been more evenly divided among responses of more, less and the same,” Gallup said.
Support for more emphasis on natural gas remains even between Democrats and Republicans, at 42%, but is down seven points from the previous measurement. Twenty two percent prefer less emphasis on natural gas and 37% prefer the same level.
Views on oil are divided, with 34% preferring more emphasis on it, 37% less and 28% no change. Coal draws the least support of any source asked about, with just 23% of Americans favouring more emphasis, half preferring less and 25% the same amount. These figures have held roughly steady since 2013, with slightly more now preferring less emphasis.
