It　is　difficult　to　know　whether　different　dimensions　of　trust　have　different　effects　on　local　residents＇　acceptance　of　nuclear　power　plants　(NPPs).　In　previous　research　such　trust　has　been　considered　as　a　single　dimensional　concept.　This　paper　divides　trust　into　goodwill　trust　and　competence　trust,　and　we　explore　the　ways　in　which　trust　affects　acceptance　of　NPPs　through　structural　equation　modeling.　A　survey　of　491　people　was　conducted　in　Haiyan　County,　China,　where　the　Qinshan　nuclear　power　plant　is　located.　We　find　that　goodwill　trust　is　significantly　correlated　with　competence　trust,　and　each　can　indirectly　promote　residents＇　acceptance　of　NPPs　but　by　different　paths.　Goodwill　trust　improves　acceptance　of　NPPs　by　decreasing　risk　perception,　while　competence　trust　improves　acceptance　of　NPPs　by　increasing　benefit　perception.　However,　the　associations　between　goodwill　trust　and　benefit　perception,　competence　trust　and　risk　perception,　are　not　significant.