2026 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey: Questionnaire

The new national survey was conducted from May 4-7, 2026, by Bisconti Research, Inc., using a nationally representative sample of 1,016 people drawn from the Quest Mindshare Online Panel of 3.5 million people in the U.S. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Questions about You

• Your gender. Select one answer.

• In which state do you reside? Select one answer.

  Pulldown list of states.

• What is your age? Select one answer.

• Pulldown list of all ages from 18.  TERMINATE IF LESS THAN 18.

• What Is your ethnicity? Select all answers that apply.

• What was the highest level of school you completed?  Select one answer.

• Do you usually think of yourself as an environmentalist? Select one answer.

• Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as…? Select one answer.

• For whom did you vote for president in 2024?  Select one answer.

• Are you currently registered to vote? Select one answer.

Opinion Questions

1. Select one answer. Considering problems facing the United States, would you say that energy is:

2. How important do you think nuclear energy will be in meeting this nation’s electricity needs in the years ahead? Do you think nuclear energy will be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? Select one answer.

3. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Select one answer for each statement.

4. Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? Select one answer.

5. What are the main reasons for your opinion of nuclear energy? Write up to three reasons.

6. Do you associate nuclear energy a lot, a little, or not at all with each of the following? Select one answer for each item. RANDOMIZE.

7. Do you think that the majority of people in your community favor or oppose nuclear energy? Select one answer.

8. Based on what you hear or see, do you think that U.S. public opinion toward nuclear energy is becoming more favorable, less favorable, or not changing at all? Select one answer.

9. Thinking of the nuclear power plants closest to where you live, would you describe your general impression of these plants and the way they have operated recently as very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable? Select one answer.

10. Thinking about the nuclear power plants nearest to where you live, how safe do you regard these plants? Select any number from 1 to 7.

11. Have you heard anything about advanced-design nuclear power plants called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? Select one answer.

12. Innovative Small Modular Reactors (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) next to one of the nuclear power plants nearest to where you live? Select one answer.

13. How well informed do you feel you are about nuclear energy? Select one answer.

14. Do you consider yourself an opinion leader?

15. Rate each of the following as a source of accurate and reliable information about nuclear energy. Select one answer on each line. (RANDOMIZE)

16. Rate each of the following statements as a reason to support nuclear energy. Select one answer on each line. RANDOMIZE.

17. Select three statements that, in combination, make the strongest case for nuclear energy. RANDOMIZE IN SAME ORDER AS Q16.

18. Thinking again, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? Select one answer.

19. Thinking about companies that make nuclear power plants, do any company names come to mind?

If yes: Write two or three names of companies that make nuclear power plants. Names listed below are in raw numbers, not percentages, and include only names that were mentioned at least twice.

20. One last question: Have you heard anything about the following topics during the past year or so? Select one answer on each line. DO NOT ROTATE OR RANDOMIZE.

Thank you very much for participating in this survey and giving us your opinions!

© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2026.