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Wise County Energy Development Feasibility Study: Community Feedback - Phase 2

Introduction

Wise County is evaluating future electricity needs, potential energy options, and the factors residents believe should guide those decisions, with a focus on the feasibility of advanced nuclear energy as the specific option being explored under this study.

The first community survey suggested several useful areas to probe further: safety, environmental impacts, public health, trust, transparency and public participation, and tangible local benefits.

The following survey is estimated to take between 8-12 minutes to complete and is designed to provide three things the first survey did not provide :
  1. better understanding of primary concerns identified in the phase 1 survey
  2. identification of conditions, if any, where additional information could be helpful, and
  3. differentiation between opposition to nuclear technology, opposition to a particular site/project, opposition to data-center-driven demand, and distrust of the decision-making process.
This follow-up survey seeks to determine
  • what information you need to better understand the relevant issues
  • what conditions, if any, might affect your current views
  • what tradeoffs you might be willing or unwilling to make.
Please note that whenever a question says “any new energy generation facilities/any type of future energy development” that could include wind, solar, natural gas, or other generation type.
1.Based on what you currently know, which statement comes closest to your current position on the possible development of any new energy generation facilities in Wise County to meet current and future energy needs?
2.When evaluating any type of future energy development, which three (3) outcomes should receive the highest priority?
3.How supportive would you be of future energy generation development (independent of type) primarily to serve each of the following consumers?
Strongly Oppose
Somewhat Oppose
Neutral/ No opinion
Somewhat support
Strongly Support
Existing Wise County residents
Existing local businesses
Hospitals and other critical facilities
New manufacturing facilities
New data centers
New businesses generally
Customers elsewhere in Southwest Virginia
Electricity demand elsewhere in Virginia or surrounding states
4.What employment information would be most important for you to know before evaluating any type of proposed power generation project? Select up to three (3).
5.Based on what you currently know, which statement comes closest to your current position on the possible development of an advanced nuclear energy facility in Wise County to meet current and future energy needs?
6.On which topics would you like additional independent information? Select up to FIVE.
7.In your opinion, how knowledgeable are each of the following for providing accurate and objective information about a proposed advanced nuclear project?(Required.)
No knowledge
Low knowledge
Moderate knowledge
High knowledge
Expert
No opinion
Local government
State government
Federal nuclear regulators
Regional/local institutions of higher education
Other Universities and independent research organizations
Nuclear technology developers
Electric utilities
Environmental organizations
Independent engineering/environmental consultants
Local community organizations
8.How much confidence and/or trust do you currently have in each of the following to provide accurate and objective information about a proposed advanced nuclear project?(Required.)
No confidence
Low confidence
Moderate confidence
High confidence
Complete confidence
No opinion
Local government
State government
Federal nuclear regulators
Regional/local institutions of higher education
Other Universities and independent research organizations
Nuclear technology developers
Electric utilities
Environmental organizations
Independent engineering/environmental consultants
Local community organizations
9.If you currently oppose or are uncertain about advanced nuclear development, which factors, if any, could change your thinking? (check all that apply)
10.Are there circumstances that would cause you to oppose a proposed advanced nuclear project even though you generally support nuclear energy? (check all that apply)
11.Please share any additional comments or observations you have about your responses to the above questions.