Provisions　for　compensation　have　been　widely　used　to　handle　siting　difficulties　in　many　countries.　However,　neglecting　the　factors　that　influence　the　residents’　willingness　to　accept　compensation　(WTA)　for　the　siting　of　clean　energy　facilities　for　the　long　term　has　led　to　the　failure　of　compensation,　which　could　potentially　cause　stalemates　or　even　conflicts　in　projects.　Given　the　representativeness　of　nuclear　power　plants　(NPPs)　in　the　siting　of　clean　energy　facilities,　this　study　chose　the　siting　of　NPPs　as　a　case　study.　Moreover,　an　extended　knowledge–attitudes–practices　(KAP)　model　was　constructed　to　explore　the　key　factors　that　affect　the　residents’　WTA　since　this　model　excels　at　understanding　individual　behaviors.　The　results　show　that　the　WTA　is　extremely　low.　Knowledge　has　positive　effects　on　attitudes,　which　is　also　the　most　significant　predictive　factor　of　the　WTA.　More　knowledge　leads　to　lower　pollution　perceptions　but　results　in　higher　safety　perceptions　and　pro-environmental　values.　Perceptions　of　safety　and　pollution　mediate　the　relationship　between　knowledge　and　the　WTA,　but　the　mediating　effects　of　pro-environmental　values　are　not　significant.　The　negative　effects　of　pollution　perceptions　are　greater　than　the　positive　effects　of　safety　perceptions　of　WTA.　These　results　may　serve　as　a　basis　to　improve　public　evaluation　to　handle　crises　in　other　countries　and　regions.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2023.