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GJGCA

(238 posts)
Sat Dec 13, 2025, 04:32 PM Dec 13

California's last nuclear power plant faces renewed scrutiny as it gains latest permit

Source: CalMatters

The decision was conditioned on a plan that would require Pacific Gas & Electric, which owns the plant, to conserve about 4,000 acres of land on its property. That would prevent it from ever being developed for commercial or residential use.

The plant, located along the San Luis Obispo shoreline, now awaits federal approval for a 20-year relicensing permit.

“I don’t think, unfortunately, that anything will be happening to Diablo Canyon soon,” due to the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence, Commissioner Jaime Lee said before voting to approve the permit. Nine of the 12 voting members approved the plan.

Gov. Gavin Newsom reversed a 2016 agreement made between environmental groups and worker unions to close the plant after the state faced a series of climate disasters that spurred energy blackouts. Popular sentiment toward nuclear energy has also continued to grow more supportive as states across the country consider revitalizing dormant and aging nuclear plants to fulfill ever-increasing energy demand needs.


https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/12/california-diablo-canyon-permit-approved/

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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California's last nuclear power plant faces renewed scrutiny as it gains latest permit (Original Post) GJGCA Dec 13 OP
Good! It was ludicrous to shut down Diablo Canyon. AZJonnie Dec 13 #1
Couldn't agree more JBTaurus83 Dec 13 #2
California needs more nuclear power plants... hunter Dec 14 #3
Having worked in nuclear industry for years as a health phycsist indusurb Dec 14 #4
What's your opinion of natural gas as an energy resource? hunter Dec 14 #6
Here in San Luis Obispo county that plant pays $21M in local taxes. Jacson6 Dec 14 #5

AZJonnie

(2,839 posts)
1. Good! It was ludicrous to shut down Diablo Canyon.
Sat Dec 13, 2025, 04:37 PM
Dec 13

We need more nuclear power, not less.

Not for data centers and crypto farms specifically, just generally, to be clear

hunter

(40,384 posts)
3. California needs more nuclear power plants...
Sun Dec 14, 2025, 10:38 AM
Dec 14

... enough that we can shut down *ALL* of our natural gas power plants.

Contrary to popular belief it will be fossil fuels, especially gas, that destroy whatever is left of the natural world as we know it and likely bring about the collapse our world civilization too.

indusurb

(297 posts)
4. Having worked in nuclear industry for years as a health phycsist
Sun Dec 14, 2025, 10:53 AM
Dec 14

Diablo Canyon has a horrible safety rep. Leaks, spills, shoddy construction, the list is almost endless. If it continues to operate it is only a matter of time before a large singular catastrophe occurs, or a slow motion one does. Remember, it is located near four major fault lines, one only a mile away.

If they decommission it and tear it down they will have to deep scrape the soil it stands on due to decades of contamination. Expensive, yes, but it really is the better option. Allowing it to continue operating is playing with nuclear fire.

hunter

(40,384 posts)
6. What's your opinion of natural gas as an energy resource?
Sun Dec 14, 2025, 01:42 PM
Dec 14

I think we've been well trained to ignore the dangers of that.

Jacson6

(1,770 posts)
5. Here in San Luis Obispo county that plant pays $21M in local taxes.
Sun Dec 14, 2025, 11:16 AM
Dec 14

It has made the county rich.

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