HS Gallup | Half of the supporters of the Greens accept the additional construction of nuclear power if it can replace fossil fuels

Major some Finns are in favor of further construction of nuclear power, if that construction replaces fossil fuels, according to a recent HS-galup.

63 percent of the survey respondents shared this opinion. 14 percent, on the other hand, do not accept additional construction, even if it replaces fossil fuels. 23 percent had no opinion on the matter.

This year, nuclear power is expected to help, for example, with the energy shortage that threatens the coming winter. The Olkiluoto 3 power plant, which has been built for more than ten years, is scheduled to start producing electricity already in September at almost full capacity. It will start regular electricity production in December.

Read more: Olkiluoto 3 produces electricity at almost full power already in September

The tightest supporters of the Greens and the left-wing coalition view the further construction of nuclear power.

However, among the Greens, who have traditionally had a negative attitude towards nuclear power, already half of the supporters accept the additional construction of nuclear power if it replaces fossil fuels. 52 percent of the supporters of the Left Alliance answered the same.

In the survey, the majority of supporters of the coalition were in favor of Ydinvoima, of whom approximately 80 percent would accept additional construction under the conditions mentioned in the question. The supporters of the center had a more positive attitude next, with a share of around 71 percent.

In recent years, the greens has changed his attitude to nuclear power. In 2020, opposition to nuclear power fell out of the party’s principle program. Last winter former chairman of the party Ville Niinistö admitted that the party’s opposition to nuclear power had been partly exaggerated.

Opinions were also significantly divided between men and women in the survey. 78 percent of men would approve the further construction of nuclear power, while only 48 percent of women would.

Also, the older the person is, the more likely he is in favor of additional construction.

About half of those aged 30 or older are sympathetic to the further construction of nuclear power, but for example 77 percent of those over 70 would approve of further construction.

Of the fossil giving up fuels completely and replacing them with renewable energy divides more Finns’ opinions.

Finns were asked whether Finland should give up fossil fuels as quickly as possible and replace them with renewable energy. 40 percent of the respondents agreed with the statement.

At the same time, however, 38 percent have the opposite opinion, i.e. they do not support the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. 23 percent had no opinion on the matter.

Among the parties, this was supported most strongly by supporters of the Greens (77 percent) and supporters of the Left Alliance (71 percent). The replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy gets the least support among supporters of the center (20 percent) and basic Finns (19 percent).