Local Residents' Attributions for Nuclear Decisions

Abstract

Residents of communities in Southwest England were asked to account for the industry's choice of a site for a new nuclear power station within the region. Analyses based on the responses of some 900 individuals indicated that those whose own attitudes were more pronuclear attributed less influence and reliability to more antinuclear sources, and regarded the industry as having been more attentive to a whole set of aspects, with the exception of local opposition/acceptance. Residents of communities that had been on the industry's original shortlist for a new power station, but since eliminated, attributed greater influence to the environmentalist movement and local action groups. It is suggested that attributions of influence reflect general approval of the stance taken by different sources, and the extent to which the sources appear successfully to defend the personal interests of the residents.