Anti-nukes could use the results to attack the Idaho Lab or Areva
An influential Idaho business weekly magazine Idaho Business Review is conducting an online survey to gauge support for nuclear energy in Idaho. At first the responses were heavy in support of Nuclear Energy in Idaho.
Lane Allgood at the Partnership for Science & Technology (PST) reports it’s obvious that anti-nuclear organizations have started campaigning to weigh in to the survey which has now moved the meter very far in the other direction.
Even though the question is specific to a nuclear power plant in Idaho (and one has been proposed), the highly unscientific collection of data in this survey could possibly be used against the Idaho National Lab, Areva’s enrichment plant, and future nuclear energy development in the state.
The other problem is that a “pro” outcome will be exploited by Alternative Energy Holdings Inc, (OTC:AEHI) which is proposing to build a new nuclear power station in Payette County. The firm continues to have challenges making the case it is a credible developer of a project of this size, cost, and complexity. That’s a side issue.
The real threat is that a “no” outcome would be exploited by the Snake River Alliance (SRA) to attack the Idaho Lab, its cleanup project, and Areva’s planned uranium enrichment plant. Make no mistake, this is a serious public relations exercise.
The horse has left the barn
The survey is the brainchild of an editor with some time on his hands, and has no official connection to any state or federal agency nor any nuclear industry supplier, at least none that we know of.
Once you let the horse out of the barn, it is gone no matter who’s brand is on it.
Please log on to the web site, scroll down to the bottom left of the page and log your vote.
It is a simple yes or no. Right now the anti-nukes are winning. http://idahobusinessreview.com The sooner the better just in case this survey goes away in the next edition.
Update April 13, 2010
The poll closed with 65% in favor, 35% opposed to nuclear energy in Idaho. The poll was at an entirely different set of numbers yesterday morning when it stood at 82% opposed and 18% in favor. The poll was "unscientific" and tracked responses from about 500 people.
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7 comments:
There have been similar instances in Australia where a poll on attitudes toward nuclear power initially show strong support for several hours, then the trend swings radically in the anti-nukes' favour in the space of an hour or so. There was little doubt that the polls in question had suffered a bot attack organised by anti-nukes.
I decided to help you out, but honestly if Idaho is dumb enough to base public policy on an online poll, there is no hope for you.
Dropped in my vote. Looks like the good guys are back on top.
Your kidding, right? You're sounding a bit paranoid which is unusual for this blog. What gives?
I'm not kidding. I'm not paranoid either.
The poll closed; last I saw it was about 63% for nuclear. Good catch Dan.
I've gotta agree with SteveK9 on this one. Every time I read or hear about someone shouting out or shouting down the results of an online poll, I just think about how easy they are to game. Where's the proof that the results of this poll weren't gamed by nuclear energy proponents? I'm pro-nuclear power myself, but I just don't trust these kinds of polls, where the motto is "Vote Early and Vote Often."
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