California's Last Nuclear Power Plant Receives Federal Approval To Stay Open — For Now

California’s last nuclear power plant was given approval to stay open Tuesday while regulators decide if the its lifespan can be extended for another five years.

Pacific Gas and Electric, which operates the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, submitted a license renewal application to federal nuclear safety regulators last month at the state’s direction. The application was in anticipation of last week’s California Public Utility Commission’s vote to keep Diablo Canyon’s two reactors operational until 2029 and 2030, respectively.

About Diablo Canyon

Diablo Canyon is the state’s largest power plant and clean energy producer, generating enough carbon-free electricity to meet the needs of 3 million residents, according to PG&E.

The plant sits on about 1,000 acres along the Pacific Coast between Morro Bay and Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County, and provides nearly 9% of the state’s electricity supply.

Diablo Canyon has two reactors that are currently licensed to operate into 2024 and 2025.

However, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation last September that authorized a short-term extension of the plant’s license. In a letter to the state senate, Newsom said keeping Diablo Canyon operational will help California meet its energy reliability needs.

That decision was met with pushback from environmental groups like Friends of the Earth, who believe the nuclear power plant poses “tremendous and unnecessary” risks, according to their website.

“Diablo sits near multiple active earthquake faults, posing an unacceptably high seismic disaster risk,” Friends of the Earth said in an open letter to state lawmakers.

However, PG&E maintains that the plants are safe and can withstand earthquakes, tsunamis and flooding.

The utility said it will also conduct an updated seismic assessment of Diablo Canyon and submit the results to the California Public Utilities Commission as part of the legislation Newsom signed.

But any new retirement date for the plant ultimately requires approval from federal, state, and local regulators.

State energy officials

Newsom’s signature also meant the California Public Utilities Commission had to vote on extending the lifespan of Diablo Canyon.

During their Dec. 14 meeting, Commissioner Karen Douglas said that requirement is a recognition of the importance of this plant, specifically how it can help the state tackle reliability challenges as it transitions to clean energy.

“Including the weather and climate extremes that we have experienced, uncertainties and timing of getting needed resources online, and the cost challenges that we face in scaling up the clean energy transition so quickly,” she said.

Douglas called the extension an opportunity to help bridge some of the early years, but she said it’s incredibly important officials don’t count on another extension for Diablo Canyon.

The commissioners reviewed the plant’s cost effectiveness, considered the price and process for extended operations, and looked at how to distribute the benefits of it being up and running for another five years.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved the extension in a 3-0 vote, with Commissioner Darcie Houck abstaining and Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma absent.

What’s next for the power plant

With the state’s support, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing PG&E’s license renewal application for Diablo Canyon. However, that process is expected to take several years, so federal regulators are allowing Diablo Canyon to continue operating while the application is reviewed.

PG&E said there will be opportunities for public participation during that time. Additionally, if you believe you would be “adversely affected” by the renewal, you can request a formal adjudicatory hearing, according to the NRC.

You can find more information on the license renewal and NRC’s public participation process here.