Voter attitudes on the 1976 California nuclear initiative

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7079024

Groth, A J; Schutz, H G

This study of public attitudes on the Nuclear Power Plants Initiative in California was conducted after the election of June 8, 1976, in order to discover how some of the issues relating to the initiative were perceived by different segments of the electorate. Proposition 15 called for more stringent regulation of the nuclear power industry in this state under the auspices of the legislature. It was defeated in the June 8 election by a margin of approximately 2 to 1, with a margin of defeat that was significantly higher in the southern part of the state than in the north. In Sacramento County, where the study was conducted, the result was 60 percent against the proposition and 40 percent in favor. This north-south split has long been recognized in both national and state elections as something of a liberal-conservative division; while the findings of this study are not limited to this concern, they generally confirm a broad linkage between conservative political identifications and attitudes and opposition to the Nuclear Power Plants Initiative. The nine chapters of this report deal with the survey methodology, an overview of the electorate, a demographic profile of Yes and No voters, attitudinal differences between proponents and opponents, the conservation question, socio-political characteristics, and information sources and credibility. The study ends with a brief summary and conclusion.

• OSTI ID: 7079024
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210700 -- Nuclear Power Plants-- Regulation & Licensing
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
CALIFORNIA
COST
EDUCATION
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR ENERGY
PUBLIC OPINION
REGULATIONS
SOCIAL IMPACT
STATE GOVERNMENT
USA