| Swedish Poll backs Nuclear | | Print | |
| Friday, 23 April 2010 | |
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More than 50 percent of
Swedes favour the use of nuclear energy, according to a poll carried out in 2009 and published this week. Preliminary results from the poll show that when given various options to choose from 32 percent of respondents favoured replacing existing nuclear plants, but not building new ones. This was an increase of two percent from the same poll in 2008. Nineteen percent favoured continued use of nuclear while also investing in more nuclear plants and long-term use of nuclear power as an energy source. Twenty-two percent said they would phase out nuclear energy, but continue to use existing nuclear plants to the end of their technical lifetimes. The poll, by the SOM Institute (Society-Opinion-Media Institute) of the University of Gothenburg, also asked whether Sweden should phase out nuclear power on the long term. Twenty-five percent, an increase of five percent on 2008, said this was neither a good nor a bad suggestion. Thirty-four percent said it was “rather bad” or “very bad”, while 19 percent said it was a “very good suggestion”. Respondents were also asked about the perceived risks of nuclear energy such as nuclear weapons proliferation, waste disposal, radioactive releases and sabotage or terrorism. On a scale of 1 to 10 – with one meaning “very low risk” and 10 meaning “very high risk/very possible accident”, waste disposal was 4.4 and possible sabotage or terrorism aimed at plants was 4.5. The poll confirms the results of a recent opinion poll by polling institute TNS Sifo on behalf of SKGS, which represents Sweden’s electricity-intensive industries – forestry, chemical, mining and steel production. That poll showed that more than 50 percent of Swedes think the country should continue to use nuclear power plants and that Sweden's existing reactors should be replaced with new ones. Sweden is planning to overturn a ban on building new nuclear units, although the number of commercially operational units would be limited to 10. Sweden has 10 commercially operational units, meaning those units would be replaced when they came to the end of their operational lifetimes. Comments (0)
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