Awareness and Appeal of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): 2025 Update (Insights from Surveys of the U.S. Public and Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors)

Ann Stouffer Bisconti, PhD

Bisconti Research, Inc.

August 2025

Nuclear power plants have suddenly become a hot topic with influential audiences. Among the public too, both Democrats and Republicans agree we should build more of them. In 2025, a 64% majority of Americans agreed with the statement, “We should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the future.”

One of the most intriguing innovations is the Small Modular Reactor (SMR). SMRs produce less electricity than the large plants operating today, of which there are more than 90 in more than 50 locations across the United States. However, SMRs can be built in series much more quickly and at lower cost. According to the Nuclear Energy Agency of OECD, the number of SMR designs being readied for market has reached 127.

Awareness of SMRs (2023 and 2025)

The 2023 and 2025 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Surveys[1] show that the American public is still mostly unaware of SMRs. In 2025, only 26% said they had heard about “advanced-design nuclear power plants called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).” That’s up from 20% of those surveyed in 2023 but still a minority.

U.S. Public Awareness of SMRs 2023 and 2025

Have you heard anything about advanced-design nuclear power plants called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? (%)

Demographic differences in reported awareness are striking. Those most aware of SMRs are men, college graduates, and millennials.

% of U.S. Public Who Heard about SMRs in 2023 and 2025, by Demographics (%)

Perceptions of SMRs (2025)

The 2025 survey introduced SMRs as “advanced-design nuclear power plants.” Majorities of those who recalled hearing about SMRs said they envision these plants “a lot” as innovative, clean energy, reliable, safe, and affordable. Even those who had not heard about SMRs were more inclined than not to associate these features with SMRs. These findings show considerable public receptivity to descriptions of SMRs advantages.

Perceptions of SMRs (2025)

How much do you think that each of the following describes advanced-design nuclear power plants called

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? Give your best guess.

Those Who Recalled Hearing About SMRs

Those Who Did Not Recall Hearing About SMRs

Appeal of SMR Features (2023)

The 2023 survey asked about the “importance to you” of 9 SMR features in two ways: 

1) Rate on a scale of extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not too important, and not at all important; and

2) Select the three most important.

Importance to U.S. Public of 9 Features of SMRs 2023

At least two-thirds of respondents rated almost all of the 9 features extremely or very important.  The most important feature is that SMRs “have advanced safety features.” Also very important to the public are that they “produce no greenhouse gases or other air pollution,”and “cost less to build than larger plants, and so are more affordable to consumers.”  

Other features that could round out a positive image for SMRs include their ability to convert seawater into safe drinking water, their ability to minimize or re-use nuclear waste, and their support for renewables.  The ideas of taking little land and of starting small and adding new units as needed may require more explanation—or may be more relevant to prospective plant neighbors than the general public.

The feature judged least important was one about the beautiful designs of some SMRs. This feature may be one that is best communicated with pictures that the public can see and also may be more important to potential plant neighbors than the general public. 

Top Three Most Important Features of SMRs to U.S. Public[2] in 2023, by Demographics

Select the three SMR features that are most important to you. (%)

“Advanced safety systems” appealed more to women than men. The appeal of this feature was also directly associated with age—more important with older groups who remember past reports of safety issues.  Men college graduates historically have been more likely than others to see waste as a barrier to nuclear energy, and they gave highest importance to the fact that SMRs minimize waste and some can use it to produce electricity.  Political differences appeared, as always, on the importance of a feature related to climate change—no greenhouse gases or other air pollution. This feature is more important to Democrats than Republicans.

SMRs Acceptable to Plant Neighbors (2022)

The ninth National Survey of Nuclear Power Plant Neighbors revealed high support for adding SMRs at the nearest plant site. This survey, conducted in June 2022, found that 78 percent of respondents would find a new reactor acceptable at the plant site, and, even more, 86 percent, would find an SMR acceptable. The survey described the SMR as an “advanced alternative for supplying electricity.”    

This biennial survey gained the opinions of 910 full-time residents within the 10-mile radius of nearly all nuclear power plants in the U.S. The plant neighbors are well distributed across 52 operating sites. Households with people who work at a nuclear power plant were excluded due to vested interest.[3]

Acceptability of a New Reactor at Nearby Plant Site

If a new power plant were needed to supply electricity, would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a new nuclear reactor at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (%)

Acceptability of a New Advanced-Design SMR at Nearby Plant Site

Innovative Small Modular Reactors, known as SMRs, are a new advanced alternative for supplying electricity. Would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant? (%)

At least 78 percent of every demographic group of plant neighbors said that an SMR would be acceptable at their plant site.

These findings show that gaining public buy-in for new reactors may not be as difficult as some commentators imagine. There are many existing nuclear power plant sites where new reactors, including SMRs, could be considered.   

Plant Neighbors 2022: Acceptability of Adding a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the Site of the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant, by Demographics

Innovative Small Modular Reactors, known as SMRs, are a new advanced alternative for supplying electricity.  Would it be acceptable to you or not acceptable to you to add a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the site of the nearest nuclear power plant?

[1] Both surveys included 1,000 nationally representative US adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. Both were conducted by Bisconti Research, Inc with the Quest Mindshare Online Panel.

[2] This question was asked for all 9 features, but the table looks at demographics only for the 6 features with the highest importance ratings.

[3] By Bisconti Research, Inc. with Quest Mindshare. All nine surveys were funded by the Nuclear Energy Institute.

© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2025.