Many people feel a sense of unease when they think about nuclear power. The term can immediately conjure visuals of catastrophic accidents and invisible radiation.
The reality for those who have been living near active nuclear plants is very different. These residents often become the strongest advocates for the industry, with 91% of neighbours holding a favorable view of their local plant in Bisconti Research’s 9th National Survey of Nuclear Power Plant Neighbours.
Other polling confirms this sentiment. A strong majority of residents near the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, Canada—which has been operating since the 1970s—agree that it operates safely (93%), is involved with the community in a positive way (92%), and is a good community citizen (93%).
Mayors Confirm Nuclear’s Positive Impact
A 2025 gathering of communities that host nuclear facilities convened by the International Atomic Energy Agency demonstrates the immense value that this carbon-free power can bring to residents and local governments.
Mayors acknowledged their responsibility to be well-informed and attentive to public concerns, and shared some of the improvements to local quality of life:
- “We are the people of the Northern Lights. For us nuclear energy is heat and light in our homes, and [a] secure future for our children. … Nuclear energy supports social infrastructure, investment, and regional development. It strengthens good neighbourly ties and ensures energy security.” – Ludmila Danilova, Vice-President of the Regional Public Organization Association of Indigenous Peoples of Chukotka, Russia
- “Our citizens … support nuclear because it offers safe, reliable, carbon-free, baseload energy.” – Rebecca Casper, Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, United States of America
- “Nuclear business has brought numerous jobs, tax revenues, and countless business opportunities to private companies in the … region and of course better days for all inhabitants in this area.” – Vesa Lakaniemi, Mayor of Eurajoki Municipality, Finland
- “In our municipality, nuclear energy generates many jobs, both directly and indirectly, and provides the city council with significant revenue, which we use to subsidize services for organizations and residents.” – Assumpció Castellví Auví, Mayor of Vandellós i l’Hospitalet-del’Infant, Spain
- “The nuclear industry has brought prosperity and well-being to my municipality and region … all of this takes place in close consultation with residents and the local government, fostering a strong sense of community.” – Kris Van Dijck, Mayor of Dessel, Belgium, and Member of the European Parliament
SMRs Make an Even Better Neighbour
While other types of energy infrastructure also create jobs and stimulate regional development, nuclear power offers further advantages. It produces zero carbon emissions and has a safety record similar to that of wind and solar power, unlike fossil fuel plants whose smog contributes directly to fatal heart and lung diseases
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) make for even better neighbours than traditional nuclear power plants. Many proposed designs aim to have a smaller footprint and exclusion zone than traditional nuclear power plants and include advanced passive safety features that do not require any backup systems or human intervention.
Combined with their unique ability to power other critical systems such as district heating, water treatment facilities and indoor farming, SMRs are a perfect fit for remote towns and industrial sites. A surplus of clean power at predictable prices can help eliminate energy poverty and enable new businesses to grow in places that were once too expensive to operate. These reactors offer a path to energy independence for communities far from the main power grid.
Commitment to Community Care
There are many examples of how the global nuclear industry is continuously striving to be more than just a utility, and Canada has many success stories to share.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) donated more than $500,000 over three years to 41 charities and organisations selected by its employees. The wide-ranging list included hospitals, animal care groups, educational initiatives and more.
In the early days of COVID-19, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization mobilized to provide funding for health care workers, money and equipment for PPE, and Christmas Hampers for First Nation communities. It also donated around $200,000 to food banks, Indigenous Friendship Centres, student support programs, women’s shelters and more to combat food insecurity.
Similarly, CNL and its employees responded to the pandemic by designing a low-cost ventilator constructed from easily accessible parts and constructing facilities to protect and decontaminate front-line workers, simplify drive-through testing and sterilize PPE. It also distributed food bank supplies, donated thousands of pieces of PPE, and 3-D printed face shields.
Beyond donations, the industry has also built valuable economic partnerships. Since 2019, Bruce Power in Ontario has partnered with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation in 2021 to produce and market cancer-fighting medical isotopes. The expanding initiative is named Gamzook’aamin aakoziwin (“We are teaming up to fight the sickness”) and brings both important tools to fight cancer around the world and economic opportunities to the traditional stewards of the land on which the Bruce Power Nuclear Generating Station operates.
Being neighbors with nuclear power brings stability, safety and shared prosperity. Beyond providing safe and clean energy, the industry has shown that it integrates itself into the social fabric of their host communities through charitable outreach, economic partnerships and inclusive consultation.
