Date:

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October 11, 2015

Dr. Richard Meserve
Co-Chair
Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee
Kyle Andrews
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Washington State University
Pullman WA, 99163
Recommendation memo for Nuclear Energy research study

Purpose
The purpose of this memo is to describe the research that was done on the
public opinion of nuclear power in the United States. This memo aims to
provide a recommendation for the best way to provide information to college
students about the benefits and safety of nuclear energy in order to advance
the United States nuclear power program.
Summary
This memo includes a brief introduction to nuclear power, the research
methods used to study the subject, and the results found completing the
research methods. Nuclear energy is a very beneficial and efficient form of
producing electricity and is essential to the future of energy production in the
United States. Because of disasters in the past the public is fearful of
advancing nuclear energy, however, the benefits greatly out weigh the risks
and production on nuclear reactors needs to continue. In order to do that,
research was done on nuclear energy, the public opinion of nuclear energy,
and how that opinion affects the advancement of nuclear power. Along with
this a small study will be done on a focus group to determine the viability of
changing public perspective.
The results obtained showed that nuclear energy is indeed a very reliable
form of energy that should be utilized in the future. The results also showed
that public opinion has a major affect on the progression of nuclear power in
the US and that currently peoples views are negative. After conducting a
small study with a focus group of 15 WSU students it was found that the
opinion of college students on nuclear power is very similar to the national
opinion found through research. It was also found that educating these same
students on the benefits and safety of nuclear power using a short
presentation changed most of the students negative perspectives on
nuclear power.
Introduction
Nuclear energy is in the worlds best interest today; it accounts for 16% of

the worlds electricity, is a very clean and efficient form of energy, and is very
safe when compared to electricity produced by burning fossil fuels. The only
problem with nuclear power is a negative public perception caused by
nuclear related incidents in the past.
On August 6th and 9th, after the Manhattan Project was complete, atomic
bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing around 225,000
people. The Japanese formally surrendered to the United States and its allies
24 days later. (Krivit) These events sparked an arms race that threatened to
destroy the world, but more importantly, an energy race that had hoped to
save it. While no single energy technology will solve the problem of climate
change, nuclear energy has a significant role to play because of its ability to
produce very little greenhouse gas emissions and very large amounts of
energy. Though today, nuclear power generates only a relatively small
fraction of the world's electricity, it offers the potential for providing a
tremendous expanse of commercial electricity. In addition, nuclear energy
can buffer the increasing concerns about the security of the world's energy
supplies. Although there is tremendous fear of nuclear energy, it is essential
for the future of the world's energy to utilize this vital technology
Contrary to popular belief creating electricity using nuclear power is fairly
simple. Uranium-235 is a naturally occurring element and has the unique
ability to be forced to endure fission. Fission is when an atom of an element
is split producing relatively massive amounts of energy. In a nuclear reactor
uranium-235 pellets are positioned into rods, grouped into bundles, then
submerged in water. Fission is induced to the uranium and the reaction heats
the water into steam; the steam then turns large turbines connected to
magnets in coils of wire, which creates electricity. (Krivit)
Today 33 countries hold 444 nuclear reactors producing 16% of the worlds
energy with the United States being the largest producer of nuclear power.
Many countries rely heavily on nuclear energy. Britain gets 23% of its
electricity from nuclear power, Spain receives 29%, Germany and Finland
receive 32%, Sweden receives 44%, Belgium gets 58% and France gets an
extraordinary 80% of its electricity from nuclear power plants. (Krivit) The
United States obtains 19% of its electricity from nuclear power plants but
that number could be much higher if the perspectives about nuclear energy
are changed.
The majority of energy consumed today is produced by fossil fuels. Gas and
Coal alone account for 60 percent of electricity produced in North America
but they are also the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, producing
over 2,000 million metric tons of CO2 gas, 32 percent of all emissions.
(Electric) Different sources of clean energy need to be utilized to their full
extent so fossil fuels can phase out of our energy production. Renewable
energy sources have become more prominent in the United States such as

wind and solar energy but neither is as effective as nuclear energy. Nuclear
energy facilities generate electricity around the clock at a 90.1 percent
capacity factor. (Electric) Capacity factor measures the ratio of actual energy
produced in a given period, to the hypothetical maximum energy produced in
that time period. Wind and Solar capacity factors combined only amount up
to 50.1 percent (32.3 percent and 17.8 percent) and Nuclear energies
capacity factor also beats out fossil fuel factors with coal at 59.7 percent and
gas at 46.5. (Electric) Nuclear energy is by far the most efficient source of
energy available but at the same time it only accounts for 19 percent of the
total energy consumed in the US. (Krivit) The main factor limiting the wide
spread of Nuclear energy is a public opinion that it is not worth the risks.
The first reported accident concerning nuclear power plants happened on
October 10, 1957 in the United Kingdom when a fire destroyed the core of a
reactor sending radiation into the air. Although it is possible that some
people may have died from this, zero fatalities were reported. (Krivit) In 1979
because of a faulty computer reading and several human errors one of the
cores at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant went into partial
meltdown. Radioactive water escaped from the core but was safely confined
in the containment building that is put in place in all nuclear power plants in
the United States in case of a meltdown. (Safety) Very little radiation
escaped and no health or environmental problems were reported. The two
most recent and by far most catastrophic accidents were the Chernobyl and
Fukushima power plants. The Chernobyl reactor in Ukraine suffered a nonnuclear explosion damaging the reactor. If an explosion like this happened in
a western nuclear power plant the containment building would have safely
contained it, but because the Chernobyl reactor did not have the proper
safety regulations the explosion were disastrous. (Safety) Only 56 people
died due to the reactor explosion and putting out the ensuing fire but
because of radiation being carried down wind of the reactor 330,000 people
were evacuated from their homes and communities and radiation was
detected as far away as Sweden. (Krivit) Fukushima was also a terrible
disaster, however deaths caused from the reactor meltdown are almost
impossible to predict because of all the damage done by the earthquake and
tsunami. Like the Chernobyl disaster the Japanese government ignored some
safety concerns that could have prevented such terrible failures. (Safety)
Even with the incidents that have happened in the past the nuclear industry
has a safety record unsurpassed by any other industry in the world.
Statistically speaking working at a nuclear power plant is one of the safest
jobs someone can have. Other electrical power plants such as coal, oil and
natural gas have caused over 200 accidental deaths per year. (Krivit) Nuclear
power plants on naval ships have also been operating for nearly 40 years
with no problems. (Krivit) A study done in 2008 found that while the
combined accident rate for all manufacturing industries was 3.5 accidents
per 200,000 workers the rate for the nuclear industry was only 0.13

accidents per 200,000 workers. (Krivit) With these statistics it is highly

irrational to think of producing electricity with nuclear power as anymore
dangerous then using traditional forms.
It has been over 30 years since the last nuclear reactor used to produce
electricity was built in the US. (American) Most people that think of nuclear
energy think of the Atom bomb, nuclear war, and accidents like Chernobyl
but the truth of nuclear energy used to create electricity is very different. I
feel there is a lack of information provided to the public on the safety of
nuclear energy and a lack of information on the difference between reactors
in the US and the reactors in other counties that have failed in the past. It is
unknown exactly how much information and advertisement about the safety
and benefits of nuclear energy is provided to the public. It is also unknown
how much the negative opinion deters the advancement of nuclear energy.
Realistically everyone in the US could benefit from this problem being
addressed. Nuclear energy provides clean energy and can help reduce the
environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels as well as provide an
abundance of electricity to the US. Advancing nuclear energy could also
provide jobs and technological advancements in other industries. Showing
the next generations of our work force that nuclear energy is safe and
beneficial would be the best way to advance the industry and change public
opinion.
Research Methods
Task 1: Acquire a complete understanding of the benefits and safety
of nuclear power.
I started this study by researching secondary and primary sources to try and
advance my understanding of nuclear energy operations in the United
States. I first researched the history of nuclear energy as well as how nuclear
powered electricity works. Following this the current power statistics on
nuclear energy as well as other forms of electricity were studied. Then the
benefits and safety of nuclear power in the US was researched.
Task 2: Research on public opinion towards the advancement of
nuclear energy in the US.
In order to learn more about the publics opinions towards nuclear energy
and how those opinions affected the advancement of nuclear energy in the
US various studies were found. Studies done on public opinion around the
time of the Fukushima disaster were also collected. These studies were then
analyzed to determine the why people view nuclear power negatively.

Task 3: Conduct a small study with a focus group on their opinions

on nuclear power.
A small group of 15 people at Washington State University will be asked
three questions about nuclear power. These questions will attempt to
determine the participants knowledge of nuclear power as well as their
position on the advancement of nuclear power both in the US and in their
own community. The questions asked to the focus group are as follows:
1. Is nuclear energy a safe and beneficial form of electricity production in
the United States?
2. Should the United States continue to produce new nuclear reactors to
produce electricity?
3. Would you consider living near a nuclear power plant after graduation?
Task 4: Create a presentation to educate focus group on nuclear
power and analyze the results.
A short presentation aiming to educate people on past nuclear disasters,
nuclear safety, and the benefits of nuclear energy will be made. This video
will be presented to the focus group and a discussion will take place
following. Asking the same questions about nuclear power and seeing how
the answers change will determine the results of the presentation.
Results
Task 1: Acquire a complete understanding of the benefits and safety
of nuclear power.
As stated in the introduction nuclear power is the most efficient form of
creating electricity. Nuclear power has over a 90% capacity factor which is
very high when compared to wind which has just under a 20% capacity
factor, solar with a 32% capacity factor, coal with a 60% percent capacity
factor, and gas with a 47% capacity factor. (Electric) Nuclear power is also a
very safe form of creating energy with a study showing that there are only
0.13 accidents for every 200,000 workers while all manufacturing industries
that rate was found to be 3.5 accidents for every 200,000 employees. (Krivit)
The three major incidents related to nuclear power were also researched. It
was found that while the Three Mile Island reactor had proper containment
protocols and caused relatively little damage, the Chernobyl and Fukushima
plants did not have proper containment and radiation was aloud to escape
the plant and cause much more damage. All nuclear reactors in the western
hemisphere have the proper safety protocol. (Safety)
Task 2: Research on public opinion towards the advancement of
nuclear energy in the US.

Research of public surveys done in the past have showed a declining public
perspective of nuclear power. According to surveys conducted by various
organizations such as Cambridge Energy Research Associates, A series of
public opinion surveys establish a clear trend of declining public support for
building additional nuclear power plants from the mid 1970s through 2000.
(American) According to an article in CQ Researcher written by Marcia
Clemmit the United States was very close to building new reactors before the
Fukushima incident. There were proposals for over 30 new reactors and
public support for nuclear power was at 71%, after Fukushima that number
plummeted to around 50% and new construction was halted because
investors were afraid of being liable if a failure happened. (Clemmit) Another
study done by Yale showed that only 47 percent of Americans in May 2011
supported building more nuclear power plants, down 6 points from the prior
year (June 2010), while only 33 percent supported building a nuclear power
plant in their own local area. (Nuclear) Many other studies showed the same
results. Public opinion for nuclear energy has been declining since its boom
due to the fear of nuclear disasters. This is supported by the sharp decline in
nuclear power support shortly after the Fukushima disaster.
Task 3: Conduct a small study with a focus group on their opinions
on nuclear power.
After asking 15 students at Washington State University three questions
about nuclear power in the US the results were found to be similar to the
results in task 2. 9 out of 15 (60%) students thought nuclear was a safe and
beneficial way to create electricity in the US and the same 9 out of 15 (60%)
students thought continuing the production of nuclear reactors in the US is
necessary for our future power consumption. Only 5 out of 15 (33%) students
thought they would actually move to an area near a nuclear reactor after
graduation. Being that these results resemble those from research of
national public opinion they seem reliable.
Task 4: Create a presentation to educate focus group on nuclear
power and analyze the results.
A short presentation on the benefits and safety was provided to the same 15
students in an aim to change their perspective on nuclear power. After the
presentation the same three questions were asked. While 14 out of the 15
(93%) students agreed that nuclear power was safe and beneficial and
production of nuclear reactors should continue only 8 out of the 15 (53%)
students said they would move to an area near a nuclear reactor. This shows
that although the presentation changed their opinion on nuclear power it did
not complete sway them into supporting it whole-heartedly.
Conclusions

Analyzing the results from the research done on the benefits and safety of
nuclear energy as well as public opinion on the advancement of nuclear
power shows that there is a need to change the public opinion on nuclear
power in the US. The results from research show that statistically speaking
nuclear power is the most efficient and safest form of creating electricity in
the US. The results also show that because of past disasters public opinion is
negative towards nuclear energy and has halted the planning of future
nuclear power in the past. The results found from asking a focus group a set
of questions about nuclear power show that even amongst college students
the opinion towards the production of nuclear energy is lacking. After
showing the focus group a presentation on the benefits and safety of nuclear
power it was found that most of the students that had a negative opinion
towards nuclear power changed their minds, however, most of the students
still stated that they would not want to live near a nuclear reactor. This
analysis shows that the publics opinion of nuclear power can be changed for
the better by providing adequate information on the benefits and safety of
nuclear power.
Recommendation
Based on the results it would be optimal to implement a strategy that would
educate a mass number of Americans on the benefits and low risks of
nuclear power in the best manner possible. As far as educating college
students the research outlined in this report shows that providing good
reliable facts about nuclear power in the form of a presentation is a good
way to change their minds on the matter. Therefor my recommendation to
better inform college students on the benefits and safety of nuclear power
would be to provide an easily accessible presentation on nuclear power. This
presentation could be provided to students as an optional seminar or within
the curriculum of a freshman general education class. I believe that if
implemented correctly this can have a very positive impact on the future of
nuclear power in the US.

Works Cited/References
"Electric Power Monthly." U.S. Energy Information Administration, 1 July 2015.
Web. 12 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?
t=epmt_6_07_b>.
Krivit, Stephen B, Jay H. Lehr, and Thomas B Kingery. Nuclear Energy
Encyclopedia:Science, Technology, and Application. Hoboken: N.J.,
2011

"Safety of Nuclear Reactors." World Nuclear Association. 1 Aug. 2015. Web.

12 Oct. 2015. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-andSecurity/Safety-of-Plants/Safety-of-Nuclear-Power-Reactors/>.
"American Attitudes about Nuclear Power and Nuclear Waste." MIT Study on
the Future of Nuclear Fuel Cycle. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.
<https://mitei.mit.edu/system/files/The_Nuclear_Fuel_Cycle-9.pdf>.
"Nuclear Power in the American Mind." Yale Project on Climate Change
Communication. Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Web.
12 Oct. 2015. <http://environment.yale.edu/climatecommunication/article/PolicySupportMay2011/>.
Clemmitt, Marcia. "Nuclear Power." CQ Researcher 21, no. 22 (June 10,
2011): 505-28. Accessed October 5, 2012.
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2011061000.