Diablo Canyon Power Plant

Fifteen Democratic members of Congress from states with retired or soon-to-close nuclear power plants this week urged leading House appropriators to provide $25 million to help the Department of Energy establish interim storage of radioactive waste. Two corporate teams are seeking Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses for sites that could hold used fuel commercial power plants […]

By John Stang The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission believes that Pacific Gas & Electric’s bankruptcy proceeding will not affect the utility’s plan to begin decommissioning its two Diablo Canyon nuclear power reactors in 2024 and 2025. On March 16, the NRC responded in writing to PG&E’s Feb. 26 request for the federal agency’s opinion on […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission believes that Pacific Gas & Electric’s bankruptcy proceeding will not affect the utility’s plan to begin decommissioning its two Diablo Canyon nuclear power reactors in 2024 and 2025. On March 16, the NRC responded in writing to PG&E’s Feb. 26 request for the federal agency’s opinion on whether the bankruptcy […]

By John Stang Pacific Gas & Electric plans to issue a request for proposals around September for accelerated transfer and storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo, Calif. Representatives from the utility briefed its Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel on this plan during a March 13 […]

Pacific Gas & Electric plans to issue a request for proposals around September for the expedited transfer and storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo, Calif. Representatives from the utility briefed the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel on the plan Wednesday. The utility expects to close […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said last week it could not answer a list of questions and concerns raised by three members of Massachusetts’ delegation to Congress regarding the license transfer application for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. “Because the application is the subject of a current adjudication, the Commission must remain impartial during the […]

By John Stang Pacific Gas & Electric has asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to chime in on whether it believes the California utility’s bankruptcy proceeding will affect the future decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. In doing so, PG&E is following the order of a California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judge. In […]

Pacific Gas & Electric has asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its opinion on whether the California utility’s bankruptcy proceeding will affect the future decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. In doing so, PG&E is following the order of a California Public Utilities Commission administrative law judge. In a Feb. 26 letter to […]

By John Stang Earnings reports from two California utilities this week focused far more on the impact of massive wildfires in the state than on their nuclear power plants. Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. reported an $11.8 billion increase from 2017 to 2018 in wildfire expense such as repairing damages to the utility’s property or […]

By John Stang Pacific Gas & Electric said this week it is sticking to its schedule for closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant even as it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. “Throughout the Chapter 11 process we will continue to operate our electric and natural gas business as usual. There are no […]

Pacific Gas & Electric said Tuesday it is sticking to its schedule for closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant even as it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. “Throughout the Chapter 11 process we will continue to operate our electric and natural gas business as usual. There are no specific plans to sell […]

By John Stang California utility Pacific Gas & Electric said this week it does not expect its impending bankruptcy filing to impact the future closure and decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The company announced its intent to file for federal bankruptcy protection on Jan. 29, as it tries to figure out how to […]

The utility that operates California’s last operational nuclear power plant said Monday it anticipates filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by Jan. 29 in order to reorganize its operations. The boards of directors for Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. and subsidiary utility PG&E Co. have determined “that commencing reorganization cases under Chapter 11 of the U.S. […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Thursday it had scheduled a meeting on Jan. 24 with representatives from Southern California Edison (SCE) to discuss possible violations of federal regulations connected to a radioactive waste transfer mishap at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The agency is considering fines or other forms of “escalated enforcement” […]

Radiological decontamination and decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California should be completed within a decade of its permanent retirement, a community panel recommended this week. “The decommissioning (decontamination) process should begin immediately upon shutdown with a goal of 10 years for completion of radiological decommissioning and decontamination, avoiding SAFSTOR (which allows […]

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy said Monday it plans before the close of the year to buy a South Carolina company that produces equipment for decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The Wilmington, N.C., nuclear services provider did not say how much it will pay to acquire REI Nuclear and “certain assets.” Founded nearly six years […]

Pacific Gas and Electric said Thursday it will need an additional $1.6 billion from ratepayers to fund the anticipated $4.8 billion price tag for decommissioning its Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The California utility plans to shut down the San Luis Obispo County nuclear facility’s two reactors on the dates their Nuclear Regulatory Commission licenses expire: […]

Pacific Gas and Electric has confirmed the specific dates at which it will retire the two reactors at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California. The utility said in a Nov. 27 letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it plans to shut down reactor Unit 1 on Nov. 2, 2024, and Unit […]

By John Stang California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) announced Wednesday he had signed legislation intended to offset potentially harmful economic impacts from the pending closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Senate Bill 1090 was among several dozen bills signed by the governor, according to a statement from his office. Owner Pacific Gas & […]

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) announced Wednesday he had signed legislation intended to offset potentially harmful economic impacts from the pending closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Senate Bill 1090 was among several dozen bills signed by the governor, according to a statement from his office. Owner Pacific Gas & Electric is scheduled […]

By John Stang Residents near the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in California made clear last week they want to keep the property largely undeveloped, with a sprinkling of trails, after the property is cleaned up. The Diablo Canyon Community Engagement Panel listened on Aug. 29 in San Luis Obispo to 26 members of the public […]

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 […]

By John Stang The California state Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would allow Pacific Gas & Electric to charge its ratepayers to retain personnel at its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The bill, which passed the Senate by vote of 31-4, is now in the California General Assembly. “This community has borne the risk of having […]

Top executives at AECOM and BWX Technologies this week made clear their companies still aim to come out on top in the extended contest for a multibillion-dollar contract at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina. David Black, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Virginia-based BWXT, addressed the situation in […]

The growing market for decommissioning of commercial nuclear reactors could help offset revenue losses in other business lines at engineering and infrastructure giant AECOM, such as construction of gas-fired power plants, the company’s top executive said Tuesday. Like rival Fluor, AECOM is moving out of the market to build fixed-price natural gas power plants. When […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Pacific Gas & Electric’s request to withdraw its application to renew the licenses for the two reactors at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California. That takes the facility another step toward its planned closure in less than a decade. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in 2009 […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Pacific Gas & Electric’s request to withdraw its application to renew the licenses for its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant reactors. The utility in 2009 filed to renew the licenses for Units 1 and 2 at the San Luis Obispo County facility, which respectively began operations in 1985 […]

URENCO USA’s uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico passed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s latest performance review in all operational areas. The review covered safety, safeguards, radiological controls, facility support, and additional matters from Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2017, the agency said Wednesday in a press release. “The NRC staff review determined that […]

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has formally requested to withdraw its application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for renewal of reactor Units 1 and 2 at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The utility instead plans to shut down California’s last operational atomic energy facility within a decade. “PG&E hereby requests to withdraw the […]

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has formally requested to withdraw its application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for renewal of reactor Units 1 and 2 at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The utility instead plans to shut down California’s last operational atomic energy facility within a decade. “PG&E hereby requests to withdraw the […]