Publication Laka-library:
Timeline: A Chronology of Public Opinion on Nuclear Power in the United States and United Kingdom (2004)
| Author | Stephanie Dalquist |
 | - |
| Date | April 2004 |
| Classification | 3.01.0.00/38 (UNITED STATES - GENERAL) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
1 Introduction: Growing up together This year, 111 nuclear power generators will provide approximately 20% of the nation's total electricity (1). Commercial nuclear generators are distributed unevenly throughout the country. There are more in the densely populated and industrialized East (Figure 1). On the other side of the Mississippi, sparse population and manufacturing results in lower electricity demands which are met with easily- accessible coal. That coal may become even more important if, as the EIA predicts (2), nearly 40% of US nuclear capacity shuts down within the next twenty years. It is unlikely that new nuclear plants will replace the decommissioned ones unless public opinion towards nuclear power changes. People most fear risks (3,4) • That are imposed, rather than self-selected • Where the source of danger cannot be easily identified by the senses • Where possible harm may be manifest only after a long period, and • That arise from a novel activity. All of these are characteristics of nuclear power. In addition, organizational problems and risk availability increase the general trend of fear. Opposition of nuclear power first developed because of its military connections. The technology originally came from military submarines, and the first commercial plant in the US was even owned by the US Navy (5). Secrecy was a fundamental component of the military project which carried over to the nascent civilian projects.
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