Most Americans now oppose nuclear energy, poll finds

A majority of Americans oppose using nuclear energy for the first time, according to a new poll.

Fifty-four percent dislike nuclear energy in the Gallup survey released Friday, with 44 percent who support using it.

{mosads}Pollsters found that opposition toward nuclear energy is up 11 points since last year, when 43 percent rejected using it as an energy source.

Support for nuclear power is down 7 points during the same period, with 51 percent backing the resource in 2015.

The poll has tracked public opinion on nuclear power since 1994. The high point in support for nuclear energy was in 2010 at 62 percent.

In 2011, support was at 57 percent just before the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant.

Support for nuclear energy in the U.S. remained relatively unchanged the following year, but has slipped since.

The Fukushima plant suffered nuclear meltdowns after it was damaged in an earthquake and tsunami. It’s considered the largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

Gallup polled 1,019 Americans via cell and landline telephones from March 2-6. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error.