The Associated Press 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A poll released Thursday said 55 percent of Californians believe nuclear power is too dangerous, even if building more plants would help alleviate the country's energy problems. 

The findings by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California conflicted with the results of another group's poll in May that found 59 percent of Californians favored nuclear power and 36 percent opposed it. 

The May poll, conducted by the nonpartisan Field Institute, was taken at a time when energy shortages had forced rolling blackouts and state officials were predicting a summer of worse shortages. But unusually cool weather and increased supply in recent weeks have helped the state avoid blackouts. 

The Public Policy Institute's poll found that 57 percent of Californians say they would oppose a proposal to build a nuclear plant in their region. 

California has two nuclear power plants currently in operation - the 2,254-megawatt San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Clemente owned by San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and the 2,212-megawatt Diablo Canyon power plant near San Luis Obispo, owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. 

The Public Policy Institute polled 2,007 California adults from July 1-10. The margin of error was plus or minus 2 percentage points. 

The poll by the Field Institute included 1,015 adults and was taken May 11-20. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. 

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