Wind Power in the United States - Wind Power: Politics and Policy - page 216

7.4 UNDERSTANDING THE GENERAL FORCES FOR CHANGE
7.4.1 Sociocultural Landscape
here's a great deal of general support for alternative sources of energy.
A 2005 Harris Interactive poll found that 91% of American respondents
supported the enhanced inancing of R&D to develop alternative sources
of energy. 48 In 2009, a poll taken by Rasmussen Reports revealed that
60% of American respondents identiied inding new sources of energy as
being more important than improving energy eiciency. 49 Part of the ratio-
nale stems from the fallout from 9/11 and the prevailing political desire
to enhance domestic energy security, while other justiications stem from
anti-nuclear sentiments and climate change mitigation concerns.
Prior to 9/11, climate change was a back page issue. Although the Clinton
administration played a key role in shaping the inal text of the Kyoto
Protocol, it was widely understood even at that time that it was unlikely the
United States would ratify the document because there was not enough polit-
ical support in Congress. he terrorist attacks in New York and Washington
in 2001 elevated the topic of energy security to a front page issue. Critics
were questioning the wisdom of transferring billions of dollars of wealth
from the United States to political regions that enable terrorism. 50 So from
2001 onward, one can say that there was enhanced support for improving
energy security through domestically available resources.
Given that the United States has the most installed capacity of nuclear
power in the world, it makes sense that nuclear power would stake a place
on the agenda of domestic energy security. Interestingly, despite the fact
that no new nuclear plants have been built in the United States since
1979, there is a high degree of general support for expanding nuclear
power capacity. In a 2008 poll by Rasmussen Reports, 55% of US respon-
dents asserted that more nuclear power plants should be built in the
United States, with only 27% opposed. 51 Even after the Fukushima disas-
ter, a 2012 Angus Reid poll indicated that 47% of Americans surveyed
supported building more nuclear power stations in the United States,
with 38% opposed. 52 However, general support for nuclear power does not
ilter down to community-level support when it comes to siting reactors
and this explains why there has been no nuclear power plants built in the
United States for decades.
Nevertheless, there is still general ainity in the United States for
enhancing domestic energy security. here are proponents in favor of
expanding nuclear power, proponents in favor of increased oil and gas
exploration within US borders and proponents in favor of renewable energy
technologies.