In 2016 California made the political decision to prematurely shutter California's remaining nuclear power plant. Diablo Canyon's Units 1 and 2 are now slated for closure in 2024 and 2025 when their current operating licenses expire but, now, Gov. Gavin Newsom is reconsidering the move. This will be a paneled discussion on how Diablo Canyon fits into California's energy and climate strategies, as well as discuss the feasibility and the economic and environmental benefits and costs associated with California's dilemma on whether to keep the facility open beyond 2025 or prematurely close it. Along with discussing decarbonization, industrial process heat and desalination opportunities for Diablo Canyon, as outlined recently in a 2021 joint study by MIT and Stanford researchers, panelists will discuss how the future of Diablo Canyon is vital for California's clean energy security and in advancing the interests of labor, land conservation, and California's aboriginal tribal communities. 

Speakers

Dawn Ortiz-Legg

3rd District Supervisor for County of San Luis Obispo

Isabelle Boemeke

Nuclear energy influencer and founder of Isodope and Save Clean Energy

Heather Hoff

Mothers For Nuclear

Scott Lathrop

CEO of ytt Northern Chumash Nonprofit (yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini)

Gene Nelson

Government Liaison of Californians for Green Nuclear Power

Jacopo Buongiorno

TEPCO Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Director of Science

Hunter Stern

Assistant Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245 (IBEW 1245)

Session Recording