Nuclear power public acceptance

Starr, 1969 approached this by investigating the "revealed preferences exhibited in society ls the result of trial and error. (Similar to the "efficient market theory" in the stock market.) Stan-conjectured that the risk of death from disease appears to determine a level of acceptable voluntary risk but that society requires a much lower level for involuntary risk. He noted that individuals seem to accept a much higher risk (by about 1000 times) if it is voluntary, e.g., sky-diving or mountain climbing, than if it is imposed, such as electric power or commercial air travel, by a correlating with the perceived benefit. From this study, a "law" of acceptable risk was found concluding that risk acceptability is proportional cube of the benefits. Figure 1.4.4-1 from Starr, 1972 shows these relationships. One aspect of revealed preferences is that these preferences do not necessarily remain constant (Starr et al., 1976). In Starr et al., 1976, it is shown that while nuclear power has the least risk of those activities compared, it also has the least perceived benefit. Clearly the public thinks that... 

Under such circumstances, companies tend to choose relatively small generating units with low capital investment per unit of capacity, which are quick to build and have a short pay-out. These choices reduce the overall risk of an investment and are today available by choosing combined cycle gas fired plants if natural gas can be obtained at competitive prices. Compared to present nuclear power plants, such units have 1/3 of capital/kw, take two, rather than four to six years to build. Being more acceptable to the public, suitable sites for such plants are also far easier to find. 

Where does nonproliferation stand in the myriad of institutional, regulatory, public acceptance, economic and, at times, even technical problems now affecting the future of the nuclear option Is the potential contribution of nuclear power activities to further proliferation seen by policy makers and, of equal importance, the public as a significant obstacle to its revival Or is it viewed as a potential benefit capable of reducing proliferation risks. 

However, future challenges faced by nuclear power also relate to operating security concerns, nuclear weapons proliferation issues and final waste management, which are reflected in a mixed public acceptance. These are crucial areas to be addressed and developed, if nuclear power should expand its share in electricity and hydrogen generation in the future. 

It is clear that there is an enormous supply of available fuel for use in nuclear power plants. However, the future of nuclear power in the United States is by no means clear. Current problems with the further use of nuclear power in the United States include economics—costs for new nuclear power plants are above current market acceptability—and public acceptance, which may have moderated in recent years but remains to be tested. 

For full public acceptance of nuclear power, issues such as waste disposal,... 

For full public acceptance of nuclear power, a number of issues must be addressed, including waste disposal, reactor safety, economics, and nonproliferation. All of these issues depend on the fuel cycle that is used, but for any fuel cycle a geological repository will be needed for high-level waste storage. What will differ are the nature, hazard, half-life, and volume of the waste. 

These demanding goals are likely to be achievable only with systems of relatively low power compared to the lOOOMWe plants commonly used today, with the added benefit of greater security, safety, and public acceptance of the expanded use of nuclear power within developing countries. 

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