“When the legislature and I partnered to extend Diablo Canyon’s operation past 2025, we made a commitment to Californians that tackling extreme weather and supporting a reliable grid are essential to building a safe, affordable, and resilient future for our state,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “Today, I welcome the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval as we continue California’s clean-energy transition, creating good-paying jobs, fighting climate change, and cementing the Golden State as a global powerhouse.”
The approval: According to the NRC’s record of decision on the Diablo Canyon license renewal application, materials reviewed by the NRC included a general environmental impact statement; documentation submitted by PG&E; the NRC’s consultations with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; the NRC’s own environmental review; and public comments. A final supplemental environmental impact statement concluded that allowing Diablo Canyon to operate into the mid-2040s would have a small environmental impact.
Mentioned in the record of decision was the February decision by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board to approve state water quality permits—the last major hurdle to clear before NRC could reach a decision.
PG&E also gained approval from other state agencies like the California Public Utilities Commission, the State Lands Commission, and the California Coastal Commission.
Background: Diablo Canyon’s survival has been a roller coaster ride of sorts. In 2016, PG&E announced plans to permanently shutter the plant, with original plans to shut Unit 1 down in 2024 and Unit 2 in 2025. But in 2022, Newsom signed legislation to keep Diablo Canyon open through 2030. The following year, the state’s Public Utilities Commission granted a five-year license extension to allow Unit 1 to stay open through October 31, 2029, and Unit 2 through October 31, 2030. This was followed later in 2023 by PG&E filing the 20-year license renewal application with the NRC.
Diablo Canyon has a total capacity of 2,240 Net MWe, and according to PG&E provides 17 percent of the state's zero-carbon electricity and nearly 9 percent of its total electricity supply. Just like other states, California is reconsidering its current and future fleet of nuclear reactors and exploring potential expansion as energy demands grow and deadlines to meet clean-energy goals draw nearer. In California’s case, the state set a goal for 100 percent clean energy by 2045.
Some lawmakers have even considered lifting the state’s moratorium on new nuclear reactors. According to the state’s legislature calendar, a bill introduced earlier this year that would practically lift the moratorium is scheduled for an April 13 hearing.
Quotable: According to PG&E, Diablo Canyon marked the occasion with a license renewal signing ceremony Thursday.
“Diablo Canyon is the state’s largest source of clean energy and a cornerstone of reliability. Every day, we maintain an unwavering focus on operating a safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy system that can meet growing demand in a changing climate,” said PG&E CEO Sumeet Singh. “The NRC’s thorough and thoughtful review underscores the strength of our commitment, and we are proud of Diablo Canyon’s continued role in supporting California’s focus on net-zero energy.”
Diablo Canyon’s dual license renewals are the 99th and 100th issued by the NRC for commercial reactors. “Reaching this milestone reflects more than two decades of sustained regulatory oversight and technical rigor under the NRC’s license renewal program,” the agency said in a news release.
