The license extension request for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant recently received key approval from a California state agency.
On Dec. 11, the California Coastal Commission voted 9-to-3 to allow Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Diablo Canyon permission to continue running through 2030. Along with the approval, PG&E must take substantial measures mitigating the plant’s environmental impact.
The operating licenses for Diablo Canyon reactors were set to expire in 2024 and 2025, respectively. But California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed state legislation, Senate Bill 846, in 2022 to help extend the plant’s lifespan to 2029 for unit 1 and 2030 for unit 2.
According to PG&E’s Dec. 11 press release, the Oakland, Calif.-based utility agreed to set aside 4,500 acres for land conservation, with plans to possibly expand public access to the land. The utility agreed to dedicate 23 to 25 miles of new public trails.
PG&E intends to contribute $10 million for trail development and maintenance.
PG&E made the moves after the California Coastal Commission denied PG&E’s initial request at last month’s meeting. The utility previously offered to set aside 1,100 acres of land, but the state agency said that was not enough.
According to PG&E, the only steps remaining in the renewal process are the approval of permits through the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and issuance of a 20-year license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The utility filed for a 20-year license renewal with the NRC in 2023.