The California State Assembly on Monday overwhelmingly approved legislation aimed at offsetting financial impacts from the closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo County.
The 67-1 vote on the Assembly floor for the legislation followed a 31-4 vote by the California Senate on May 29. Senate Bill 1090 now goes back to the Senate for a concurrence vote.
A spokesperson declined to say Tuesday whether Gov. Jerry Brown (D) would sign the bill if it reaches his desk. The deadline for a decision is Sept. 30.
Utility Pacific Gas & Electric in June 2016 announced a closure plan under which Diablo Canyon reactor Unit 1 would shut down in 2024 and Unit 2 in 2025.
The bill, coauthored by state Sen. Bill Monning (D) and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R), commits the California Public Utilities Commission to approving the full funding for community mitigation and employee retention laid out in the “Joint Proposal” for Diablo Canyon’s closure.
The plan, from Pacific Gas & Electric and a number of labor and environmental organizations, called for $85 million in post-closure community mitigation funding and $350 million to help keep employees on the job until the facility shuts down. While it unanimously approved much of the original Joint Proposal in January, the commission reduced retention funding to just over $211 million and axed the community support – saying utility fees should be directed only for utility services.
If signed, the bill would also require the commission to ensure “integrated resource plans” are set up to prevent Diablo Canyon’s closure from leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
