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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A survey found Utah residents about evenly split on whether a nuclear power plant should be built in the state.
"So far as radiation goes, I personally have no problems with it," said Nancy Dunham of Green River, who once visited a reactor in Wisconsin. "It's clean power, and it's coming."
The poll for The Salt Lake Tribune found 43 percent support a plant and 42 percent oppose one. Fifteen percent were undecided.
Transition Power Development LLC, which is led by a state lawmaker, wants to find a site, acquire property rights and conduct studies necessary to get preliminary approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The company has an agreement to get water from the Kane County Water Conservancy District.
The Tribune poll of 625 registered voters was conducted Oct. 29-31 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc. It has an error margin of 4 percentage points.
Green River resident Barbara King is against it. She said reactors would mar the landscape in east-central Utah, home to national parks.
"It's my neighborhood," she said. "It's a beautiful area, and (a reactor) would be an eyesore."
The poll found women were twice as likely as men to oppose nuclear reactors in Utah. People 50 and older were more likely to favor having a nuclear plant than younger Utahns.
A new group based in Moab, Uranium Watch, is drafting a letter in opposition to send to Gov. Jon Huntsman and state lawmakers.
"This is not going to fly," Sarah Fields of Moab said.
Rafting outfitter Bob Quist said Green River, population 900, has seen many projects proposed but never developed.
"What I would call it is a lot of hype," he said. "Just another -- what can you say? -- boondoggle."
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
