Gov. Gavin Newsom convinced California lawmakers to extend operations at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant five years beyond its expected closure date and lend PG&E $1.4 billion to keep the facility open. The company had agreed six years ago to close the plant in 2025.
California lawmakers voted to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open for five more years, ultimately siding with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s controversial call to lend PG&E up to $1.4 billion and reverse plans to shutter the facility.to close the plant in 2025 in part because of safety concerns in the event of a major earthquake along fault lines near the coastal San Luis Obispo County site and as environmental groups pressured the state to do more to meet its renewable energy goals.
Environmental groups have said that continuing operations at the plant runs contrary to the state’s clean energy goals. After Newsom asked Californians to turn their thermostats up this week, he defended his “de-risking strategy.” He said the plant doesn’t generate harmful emissions, adopting a message the nuclear industry has used for years, and provides a dependable source of power.
Newsom introduced draft legislation to continue Diablo operations two weeks ago, setting off a fierce debate between environmental groups and stoking frustration among lawmakers about the last-minute push on such a controversial proposal. Lawmakers made changes to Newsom’s original proposal, including shortening the extension of the plant’s operations from a decade down to five years, and introduced SB 846 late Sunday evening.
“You can’t have it both ways,” said Assemblymember Jim Patterson . “You can’t say to the people of California, we’ll keep your lights on and we’ll do it affordably at the same time that we make those very affordable electrons unavailable.” After nearly a year and a half of debate, the California Public Utilities Commission followed in 2018 andto close the first reactor unit in 2024 and the second the following year.
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