FRESNO (KMJ) — The state’s last nuclear power plant is set to close in less than a decade.
Calls to shut down the Diablo Canyon site have been present for a number of years. Fears of earthquakes in particular, caused the facility in San Luis Obispo County to come under significant scrutiny. That’s despite that concern being debunked by PG&E officials last year.
The plan is for the site to be completely out of service by the year 2025.
The agreement was announced by way of Joint Proposal, unveiled Tuesday. The parties involved include PG&E, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, Coalition of California Utility Employees, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environment California and Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility.
“As we make this transition, Diablo Canyon’s full output will no longer be required”, stated PG&E CEO Tony Earley. “As a result, we will not seek to re-license the facility beyond 2025 pending approval of the joint energy proposal”.
The energy short-fall is set to be made up by investment in solar and other forms of renewable energy. It’s part of PG&E’s stated commitment to a 55% renewable energy target in 2031.
“Supporting this is a coalition of labor and environmental partners with some diverse points of view. We came to this agreement with some different perspectives”.
The agreement will mean that a request to suspend the Diablo Canyon facility’s license to operate, will be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
“But the important thing is that we ultimately got to a shared point of view about the most appropriate and responsible path forward with respect to Diablo Canyon and how best to support the state’s energy vision”.
The joint proposal in its entirety can be found clicking here.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
