California Greenlights Diablo Canyon Extension
California's state water regulators have approved the necessary permits for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant to continue operating. The decision is a key step in keeping the state's largest single source of electricity online, impacting long-term energy policy.
Originally slated for shutdown in 2025, the Diablo Canyon plant's life was extended by a 2022 state law, backed by a potential $1.4 billion state loan, to ensure grid stability as California transitions to other renewable energy sources. The plant provides approximately 9% of California's total electricity and about 17% of its carbon-free power. The recent approval from the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board was the final state-level permit needed. The board's decision allows the plant to continue using its once-through cooling system, which draws over 2.5 billion gallons of ocean water daily, a process that environmental groups say harms marine life. Operator PG&E is now awaiting a final decision from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a 20-year license renewal, which would allow the plant to operate until 2045. The NRC has already issued a safety evaluation report and a final environmental impact statement, concluding there is no reason to prevent the plant from operating for another two decades. Supporters of the extension, including Governor Gavin Newsom, point to the plant's role in preventing power shortages, especially during extreme heat events. A 2021 study from Stanford and MIT suggested that keeping the plant open would save the state billions in energy costs and significantly reduce carbon emissions. Opponents, such as San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace and the Environmental Defense Center, raise concerns about seismic safety, citing the plant's proximity to several fault lines. They also point to the ongoing issue of storing high-level radioactive waste on-site, as there is no permanent national repository. The plant is a major economic force in San Luis Obispo County, employing around 1,500 people with an average salary of $150,000 and contributing over $25 million in property taxes annually. An economic impact study projected that the plant's closure would result in a significant reduction in regional GDP. The state's legislative push for the extension, Senate Bill 846, nullified the previous 2016 agreement to close the plant. While the state law only authorizes operations until 2030, the ongoing federal relicensing process could pave the way for a much longer lifespan for California's last nuclear power facility.
