Pandora's Atomic Box Score: On the Nuclear Industry's Total Meltdown

[PamW]

10. I'll get you the cite

caraher,

I'll get you the citation; I'm attempting to remember which study I read that made the claim.

As I recall, the support among physicists / engineers for nuclear power was about 98%. The support among scientists of all disciplines is about 70%:

http://www.people-press.org/2009/07/09/section-5-evolution-climate-change-and-other-issues

About half (51%) of the general public favors building additional nuclear power plants compared with 70% of scientists...

http://sciencerelief.blogspot.com/2013/05/there-is-scientific-consensus-on.html

Nuclear physicists are also for nuclear power yet an alarming number of environmentalists are skeptical or even in outright denial - and the general public also has beliefs in stark contrast to physicists about nuclear power, just like the public does not agree about genetic modification to the same degree biologists do.

However, one can read the position statements of the scientific profession societies like the American Physical Society:

http://www.aps.org/policy/statements/93_7.cfm

A balanced energy policy, however, also requires that the Department of Energy have strong programs to keep the nuclear energy option open, through: (a) the continued development of nuclear reactors which can be built, operated, and eventually decommissioned in a manner which is simple, safe, environmentally sound and cost-effective; (b) the development and implementation of programs for the safe disposal of spent fuel and radioactive wastes; and (c) the development of an effective public education program to allow a more informed debate on the strengths and weaknesses of nuclear power. The American Physical Society is deeply concerned that the current progress in these areas is inadequate.

http://www.aps.org/policy/statements/00_3.cfm

The Council of the American Physical Society believes that the use of renewable energy sources, the adoption of new ways of producing and using fossil fuels, increased consideration of safe and cost effective uses of nuclear power, and the introduction of energy-efficient technologies can, over time, promote the United States' energy security and reduce stress on the world's environment.

PamW