California lawmakers this week passed an eleventh-hour bill that, if signed into law, would help keep the Golden State’s last operating nuclear power plant running into the next decade.
The state Senate passed the proposed measure 31-1 late on Wednesday night, the final scheduled day of the legislative session. The bill would give the California Department of Water Resources the authority to loan up to $1.4 billion to Diablo Canyon Power Plant operators Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). The bailout should be used to “facilitate the extension” of the plant’s operating lifetime, lawmakers said.
PG&E planned to shutter Diablo Canyon’s two reactors in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
If made law, the proposed bill would give the utility 180 days, or around six months, to apply with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license renewal. Such an extension is required to keep Diablo Canyon running past its planned 2025 shutdown: a closure date announced in 2018. An NRC licensing review could last longer than that closure date.
As of Friday morning, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) had yet to sign the legislation, which he helped craft. His office Aug. 11 sent it as a proposal to the state legislature.
“I’m extremely pleased to see California extending the operation of Diablo Canyon,” Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy Kathryn Huff said in a statement posted Thursday on Twitter. “These reactors critically underpin our nation’s decarbonization goals and their 24/7 power will support grid stability for consumers in the state during our transition to net zero.”
Nuclear professional organization the American Nuclear Society applauded the proposed bill’s passage in a Tweet Thursday morning. “Today is historic for nuclear and the climate,” the organization said.
And the bill is passed!!!
Senate has voted 31-1 in favor of #SB846 which means #DiabloCanyon will continue operations until at least 2030. Today is historic for nuclear and for the climate!! pic.twitter.com/ASlXglFNx5
— American Nuclear Society (@ANS_org) September 1, 2022
Maria Korsnick, president of prominent trade group the Nuclear Energy Institute, said in a statement Thursday that the proposed bill “underscores nuclear’s essential role in achieving a reliable, affordable and carbon-free energy transition.”
“California’s decision to preserve its current nuclear capacity mirrors actions we have seen around the country and around the world as governments recognize the critical role nuclear plays in decarbonizing the electric sector and entire economies,” Korsnick said.
Meanwhile, PG&E has said that it would apply for additional funding for Diablo Canyon as part of the Department of Energy’s roughly $6 billion civil nuclear credits program. Applications for the program are due Sep. 6.
