Nuclear power and public perception

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7351682

Levenson, M

A recent public opinion poll showed that 66 percent of all Americans were in favor of nuclear power compared to 57 percent in 1971, and 78 percent felt nuclear power was the least damaging to the environment of the currently available alternatives of coal, oil, and nuclear. The author attempts to identify facts relative to some publicly raised issues, even though the public perception of the minority is very much in the forefront in the news media. The nuclear controversies are emotional, not technical, the author concludes. Society has been discussing energy needs vs economics vs safety vs morality vs national security without being willing to recognize that there may be tradeoffs or compromises required. Most people are willing to accept the fact that nuclear power plants present no public hazard, even presenting less hazard, less environmental damage, and fewer moral issues than any other commercially available source of energy. The loss-of-coolant issue is discussed with some facts presented from experiences of the EBR-I and EBR-II, Fermi I, and SL-1 to illustrate the fallacies associated with that issue. Critics have recently concluded that there might not be any hazards to nuclear power plant operation, but there still remain the questions of terrorists, waste disposal, morality, and nuclear warfare. After a discussion of the facts dealing with these issues, answers are provided for five current issues: the necessity of nuclear power, nuclear nations, plutonium as a resource, plutonium toxicity, and nuclear plant insurance. The author issues a challenge for scientists to make every effort to determine the facts, to evaluate the tradeoffs, and to help clarify public perception. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA
• OSTI ID: 7351682
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 72:1; ISSN CEPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210000 -- Nuclear Power Plants
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDES
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
LOSS OF COOLANT
MANAGEMENT
METALS
NUCLEAR POWER
PLANNING
PLUTONIUM
POWER
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
SABOTAGE
SAFETY
SECURITY
SOCIOLOGY
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT