Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
California Governor Gavin Newsom suggested he may delay the closure of the state’s largest nuclear plant, Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County.
In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Newsom stated he would look into getting a chunk of the $6 billion in federal funds slated to rescue nuclear reactors from closure. President Biden’s administration made an announcement about this earlier in the month as part of an effort to support cleaner energy goals.
Diablo Canyon, licensed by Pacific Gas &Electric (PG&E), is the only operational nuclear plant and the largest single power station in California. It’s been scheduled to fully close by 2025.
“The requirement is by May 19 to submit an application, or you miss the opportunity to draw down any federal funds if you want to extend the life of that plant,” Newsom said, according to the LA Times. “We would be remiss not to put that on the table as an option.”
A spokesperson for the Governor clarified that Newsom still wants to see the facility shut down long term, reports the LA Times.
The plant produces about 18,000 GW·h of electricity annually, which is about 8.6% of total California generation and 23% of carbon-free generation, supplying electricity to more than 3 million people.
Last month a federal report identified failures by inspectors that raised concerns. The Office of the Inspector General for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted the investigation and released the Event Inquiry Report, ultimately finding the power plant is operating safely, but inspectors failed to identify several facility issues.
U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal issued a statement regarding Newsom’s comment expressing frustrations about a single-handed decision.
The full statement is provided below:
“Decisions about the future of Diablo Canyon should not be made solely in Sacramento any more than they should be made solely in Washington. And my constituents deserve better than a stop-and-go approach to the future of this facility,”
“I certainly appreciate the Governor’s interest in continuing California’s energy transition and reducing carbon emissions, but too many Central Coast jobs and livelihoods are at stake to make this decision without community input.
“If Governor Newsom is changing course, it is imperative for him to include the same community stakeholders who were a part of the decision to retire DCPP–including PG&E, environmental stakeholders, nuclear safety advocates, and labor–in any revisiting of that choice.
“I hope that the Governor’s comments will be followed up with outreach to myself and other community stakeholders who have worked for years to facilitate a consensus agreement that is informed by the San Luis Obispo County families who will be most impacted by his choices.”
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Ohhhh Salud is mad. Fight! Fight! Fight!
Well I’ll be… is that a little pragmatism and common sense creeping into the Newsom administration? Would a very refreshing change and necessary shift in direction for our state. Could shifting from state funded safe-injection sites to addiction treatment centers be next?
….but, but what about the 20 billion dollar plus train to nowhere…?
Gavin is becoming conservative? Diablo Canyon was built on an earthquake fault. It’s tim e to say goodbye to nukes in CA.
I’d rather see Biden put the money towards a full and safe opening of the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada. We shouldn’t be storing nuclear waste on the coast at Diablo and San Onofre, or at the other stations scattered around the US.
Yeah Yacht!! Dump the stuff on those Nevadans while we enjoy the product.
Fernald – It’s actually (literally) the opposite time… we need to be embracing and utilising any/all energy options!
Whatever, Mom. 😉
PG&E’s CEO stated: “I am sorry to see it go, because from a national energy policy standpoint, we need greenhouse gas-free electricity,” Earley said. “But we are regulated by the state of California, and California’s policies are driving this.”
In February 2022 a group of 79 scientists published an open letter highlighting that the plant provides 18 TWh of low-carbon electricity annually and its closure is at odds with decarbonization goals.
1212 – It’s the way to go.
What utter hypocrisy. Talk about total dose of reality. Where was the energy supposed to come from once Diablo closed? Windmills?
Not to mention the estimated $1 Billion per year in loss to SLO local economy. Yep, I guess those that push the Green agenda are wondering what happened to their boy Gavin?
What a couple of grifters, both him and Salud.
Just in time for the mid- terms…surprise!
It is past time for our “leaders” to recognize that we can’t generate enough electricity to meet their future demands with wind and solar (think how much electricity must be produced when all vehicles electric). And the environmental cost of producing wind and solar machines exceeds that of natural gas electric production. The only real option within our current technical capabilities is nuclear. Modern designs, like in France, eliminate many of the previous areas of concern. Perhaps necessity will be the mother of invention…
Filing for federal funds for possibly keeping the plant open is simply a placeholder move; and a good one at that. While nuclear energy is not ideal we have to pick our poison if we are going combat climate change on a faster track. Alternatively, if the plant is not kept open, could it be converted to desal?
Who would have ever thought Joe Biden and Gavin Newsom would team up to save California’s last nuclear power plant? And who would have imagined Joe Biden would start a campaign to save nuclear plants nationwide? And voice, it looks like Newsom is working on compulsory treatment for addicts and the mentally ill, see below. What will they do next?
https://news.yahoo.com/newsoms-care-court-homelessness-plan-120042796.html
I am totally shocked that Newsom would actually make a smart decision. Keep the plant goin until there are sufficient sources of “alternative green” energy to replace it. The advances in nuclear power are incredible. The power units themselves are smaller, compact and more efficient —think nuclear on a submarine. Poor Carbajal left out of the process and now he’s striking out.
Finally some common sense. There is hope.
Windmills are gross to look at. Kill birds. Are a huge toxic mess at the end of their life. I suggest Oak Man you walk and turn out that last light.
They are beautiful and only someone who doesn’t care about this precious environment can say such a cruel thing. They bring us life!! Clean energy!
Yes , what a waste that people think nuclear power is clean when we have always had the incredible natural power of the sea and a dangerous nuclear power plant built right next to the most powerful resource –
https://bomborawave.com/
Anyone who thinks nuclear power is clean and good / think for a moment about I’df we had an earthquake or tsunami or someone decided to bomb it – as they in Ukraine and Europe are dealing with.
I’m pleased there are some who have the voice of reason (a-1651329921).
The dominant use of electricity in the home is for the refrigerator (or refrigerators), heater blower motor (and electric kitchen heating appliances and electric heated dryer, if any). I have a gas dryer.
Electric expenses for lighting are trivial, especially with LED lighting. I noticed no signifigant difference in my electricity usage (KWH/month) whether I went around and turned out all the lights except for a few, or left a lot of lights on.
Those who don’t study history are destined to repeat it. The home across the street from me is all electric, which includes the heating system. Her electricity bill runs over $600 per month.
My home has both gas and electric service.
Gas is used for cooking and heating. My gas bill last month was just under $59, and it will decline as summer comes down to about $15/month.
With large south-facing double-pane windows, the front part of the home gets significant solar heating. The zone heating system generally does not supply heat the front part of the home (there are seven zones). That area is set to heat at 65°. The temperature is oftentimes above 82°, and we have to vent hot air through upper windows.
My electric bill for last month was under $97, which is pretty consistent throughout the year.
9:50 – All the vaunted “new design” fission reactors are paper projects that have not been proven. Fission power is too dangerous, too expensive, and takes too long to come online. It’s a fantasy pushed by Big Carbon because they know it’ll prolong fossil fuel use.
11;35, Modern nuclear generation units have been developed and are not “paper products” as you say. Just look at France for example. And fission power generation hasn’t been proven to be too dangerous. Statistics reveal that the Mortality rate in deaths per thousand terawatt hours are Wind150 Nuclear90. That includes deaths from mining, manufacturing the generation plants, use, environmental impacts, etc.