California’s public utilities commission last week agreed to kick off a new rulemaking that, if finalized, would allow the Golden State’s last operating nuclear power plant to operate into the next decade, documents show.
During a Thursday meeting, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted unanimously to greenlight the proposed rulemaking, which would, among other things, allow the committee to “authorize extended operations” at Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The extension would allow the Avila Beach, Calif., facility’s two reactors to stay online until 2029 and 2030, respectively, the rulemaking said.
The actions laid out in the PUC’s proposed rulemaking are part of a sweeping state climate bill signed into law in August by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), which authorized up to $1.4 billion in loans for Diablo Canyon operator Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). The legislation also directed PG&E to seek a federal license extension for the plant with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The Department of Energy in November announced it would grant around $1.1 billion in additional federal funding for Diablo Canyon. The plant was slated to close by 2025.
According to Thursday’s proposed rulemaking, PUC can opt to retire Diablo Canyon earlier than 2030 if Sacramento scraps the $1.4 billion loan, or if NRC refuses to license the plant for extended operations. The facility could also close earlier than proposed if the committee determines that keeping it online would be unsafe or if renewable energy sources become an “adequate substitute” for nuclear power in California.
Meanwhile, PG&E has asked NRC to resume consideration of a license renewal request for Diablo Canyon that the utility abandoned in 2009.
The plant operator has said this would prevent the plant’s existing license from expiring while the agency weighs an extension. If NRC decides a brand new application is necessary, PG&E also requested a regulatory exemption that would allow Diablo Canyon to continue operating while the commission weighs a renewal.
A coalition of environmental groups last week petitioned NRC to reject those requests, arguing that the agency has “no lawful means” of reversing the terminated 2009 application, and that PG&E’s backup plan would violate federal law.
