By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Just half of Americans are in favor of nuclear power for electricity generation. This is a declining industry that the Biden administration tried to revive with millions of dollars of public spending, as part of a plan reduce U.S. greenhouse gases emissions. A new Reuters/Ipsos survey showed.

A poll was conducted this week and found that 45% support nuclear power. 33% opposed it, 22% were not certain how they felt about it. It was supported by 48% who cited its energy reliability and 43% said it is less polluting. Only 39% of those supporting it called it a low-carbon source of energy.

Opponents cited 69% the possibility of nuclear meltdowns and 64% were concerned about nuclear waste.

According to President Joe Biden, nuclear power generates almost no greenhouse gases and is vital for fighting climate change.

In order to reduce the carbon footprint of our grid, the Obama administration has been pushing for more solar and wind energy. According to Reuters/Ipsos, 76% support solar power and 74% back wind power. 68% supported hydro-electric.

The support for fossil fuel power stations was less with 41% of the vote and 36% for coal-fired power stations.

To save U.S. reactors, which are already under attack by rising security and safety costs as well as competition from natural gas, the Obama administration has created a $6B program with funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

In the initial phase, two plants were kept open that had previously announced their intention to close. One of these, Entergy Corp The Palisades facility, in Michigan, of NYSE: (NYSE.) was shut down last month. It is uncertain whether the other, PG&E (NYSE:) Corp’s Diablo Canyon plant in California, which plants to fully shut in 2025, will tap the program to stay open.

According to the poll, even among those who opposed building nuclear power stations, 56% support keeping existing operating plants in operation while not creating new ones.

The United States is home to more than 90 active reactors, which produce approximately 20% of its power. In 2016, the United States’ newest reactor was put into operation. This is its first service since around twenty years ago.

Over the last several decades, a series of highly publicized mishaps, such as the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown in Japan, have undermined public support for the industry. Meanwhile, high construction costs have slowed down investment.

The Reuters/Ipsos online poll was done in English all over the United States. This poll collected responses from 1,004 adults. It included 431 Democrats, and 355 Republicans. It is credible interval (a measure of precision) of 3.8 percent.