Nuclear power plant near Avila Beach faces uphill battle as Newsom flip-flops on closure

The fate of California's only nuclear power plant is in flux.

The uncertainty comes as the state contends with power shortages and struggles to meet a self-imposed 2045 deadline to achieve a power grid that is fully powered by renewables.

Diablo Canyon, a twin reactor operating in the hills overlooking California's central coast, is set to close in 2025. While the power plant continues to see some local opposition, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently told the Los Angeles Times that he would like to see the plant's life extended.

The apparent flip-flop comes as Newsom's administration warned that rolling blackouts may return this summer as the state faces blazing heat and the threat of wildfires, a point that Newsom's Republican rivals attacked him with in last year's unsuccessful recall attempt.

“The governor is in support of keeping all options on the table to ensure we have a reliable (electricity) grid,” spokeswoman Erin Mellon said. “This includes considering an extension to Diablo Canyon, which continues to be an important resource as we transition to clean energy.”

Pacific Gas & Electric, the utility that operates Diablo Canyon, decided in 2016 to shutter the plant in 2025 rather than invest in costly seismic safety upgrades.

The Biden administration, however, has offered a lifeline to financially struggling nuclear power plants in its infrastructure bill that Congress approved last year. The Department of Energy announced last month that it would prioritize plants that have already announced closures for the $6 billion credit program.

Energy officials position the nuclear bailout as a key tool in fighting climate change and moving the country to a carbon-free future. Nuclear power provides about a fifth of the nation's energy and about half of its clean energy.

“U.S. nuclear power plants contribute more than half of our carbon-free electricity, and President Biden is committed to keeping these plants active to reach our clean energy goals,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.

The clock is ticking for PG&E to apply for federal funding.

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“The requirement is by May 19 to submit an application, or you miss the opportunity to draw down any federal funds if you want to extend the life of that plant,” Newsom told the LA Times. “We would be remiss not to put that on the table as an option.”

PG&E was open to exploring the option without directly commenting on the governor's remarks, a company spokesperson said.

“We are always open to considering all options to ensure continued safe, reliable, and clean energy delivery to our customers,” PG&E spokeswoman Suzanne Hosn said in an email.

Visalia lawmaker Devon Mathis, a Republican, also voiced approval for Diablo Canyon in a recent op-ed. He called on regulators to keep the plant running, arguing that the power generated could be used to operate a large-scale desalination plant.

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"Rather than removing this stable energy source from the region, we should double down on production and build an additional site to power a mega-sized desalinization plant," the assemblyman wrote.

A proposed desalination plant, which converts salty seawater into potable supplies, has come under fire in Huntington Beach. Critics questioned the project's environmental effects and projected cost while proponents said that desalination technology will help insulate California from future droughts.

On Thursday, the state's Coastal Commission sided with environmental groups, denying the Newsom-backed plant after a contentious meeting.

Regardless of how the nuclear power is used, if Diablo is to remain open it likely faces an uphill battle against regulators and environmental groups that have voiced concern about the damage the plant has caused to marine life as well as its location near an active fault line.

Erich Pica, president of the environmental group Friends of the Earth, which was part of the deal to phase out the plant, said he was “disappointed that he (Newsom) wants to reopen this conversation.”

Given that Newsom — then lieutenant governor — was part of the effort to close the plant, “it’s surprising,” Pica added.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, which also was part of the agreement to close the plant, believes that Diablo Canyon would not be eligible for federal bailout funds.

“The widely supported agreement to retire and replace the plant ... has been affirmed by multiple state and federal regulators,” said NRDC’s Ralph Cavanagh.

Newsom’s idea was welcomed by the American Nuclear Society, which represents professionals in nuclear science and technology. Diablo Canyon “has an essential role to play in California’s clean and secure energy future,” the group said.

Research from scientists at Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has concluded that delaying Diablo Canyon’s retirement to 2035 would save California $2.6 billion in power system costs, reduce the chances of brownouts, and lower carbon emissions.

When the research was presented in November, former U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the nation is not positioned in the near term to go to 100% renewable energy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Joshua Yeager is a reporter with the Visalia Times-Delta and a Report for America corps member. He covers Tulare County news deserts with a focus on the environment and local governments.

Follow him on Twitter @VTD_Joshy. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California's Diablo Canyon could win reprieve as wildfires, heat loom