Utahns closer to backing nuclear plant?
The poll found that a plurality of Utahns oppose locating a nuclear power plant in Utah: Forty-five percent were against it, while 38 percent of those surveyed favored constructing such a plant in the Beehive State. Some people hadn't made up their minds: Twelve percent said they were uncertain. And 4 percent of those surveyed said their responses would depend on other factors not covered in the poll.
The Dan Jones & Associates poll for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV questioned 603 residents statewide. The survey was carried out from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
Utahns who definitely favored building a nuclear plant in Utah amounted to 23 percent, while those who said they probably favored it were 15 percent, for a combined favorable impression of 38 percent. Probably against the plant were 16 percent and definitely against were 29 percent, for 45 percent opposed.
As recently as 2005, polls in Utah showed widespread opposition to all things nuclear. In November 2005, the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV sponsored a poll on a plan by Private Fuel Storage to locate a "temporary" repository for high-level radioactive spent fuel rods, a facility that was planned for the Goshute Indian Reservation in Tooele County. The poll, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, found that 84 percent of the Utahns surveyed opposed the repository.
Today, PFS is a dead issue, with the federal government refusing to grant it the needed right of way. But nuclear power is again an issue, with a nuclear plant proposed for somewhere in eastern Utah. If permitted, Transition Power Development would build a two-reactor plant in eastern Utah capable of 3,000 megawatts of electricity.
While the nuclear debate has reignited, opposition to nuclear power seems to have lost a great deal of steam.
A sharp gender divide shows up in the poll, with men nearly three times as likely to favor the construction than women. Men favored the plant, 56 percent to 30 percent. But women were opposed, with 60 percent against and only 20 percent in favor.
Political differences also showed up. Republicans like the plant by a small plurality, 42 percent to 38 percent. Democrats were heavily opposed, with 26 percent in favor and 64 percent against.
Likewise, age was a factor. People in the youngest age group, from 18 to 24, were strongly opposed: Sixteen percent for and 76 percent against. The oldest group interviewed, those 65 and above, were the most strongly in favor, by 51 percent to 28 percent.
E-mail: bau@desnews.com
Recent comments
It is time for the US to get on board in being a leader in promoting...
Tim | Nov. 14, 2007 at 8:36 p.m.
Thats not smoke, it's steam.
blj | Nov. 14, 2007 at 5:50 p.m.
It will happen. Just reading these posts is refreshing compared with...
brejol | Nov. 14, 2007 at 5:46 p.m.
- State Am: More than golf for Stimpson 11:14 p.m.
- Sleepy Ridge offers much for many 11:09 p.m.
- Sentencing delayed in con man's case 11:07 p.m.
- Draper Days bronc riding 11:07 p.m.
- Ex-S.L. man pleads guilty in Florida 11:07 p.m.
- 2 W.V. men charged with lewdness 11:06 p.m.
- Defense prepares for murder case 11:05 p.m.
- Utah man gets 51 months for fraud 11:05 p.m.
- Man competent for trial in 2008 death 11:04 p.m.
- Man arrested in sex assault on teen 11:03 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - LDS seminary principal arrested
137 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
81 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Tough decision in my eyes. Yes it is a lot of money to pay for Milsap to sit...
The definition of "lie" is to make an untrue statement with the intent to...
why do people complain about the story vs. not story. If you don't think the...
Know your enemy: relax no one cares about the spelling. Anonymous: I agree...
I'm sure glad he saved us! No if we could just get those sea levels down...
I am supposing they were trying to get on the news, and in the newspapers....
What a great Idea, 12 years of hard labor vs. siting on your butt for 12...
There has been no evidence of a possible global collapse. The only evidence...
I just went to the Mormon myth busting site (great name, BTW!) but it needs a...
Jazz need to keep Milsap without a doubt! he did a lot for us. Trade AK and...

