PG & E has announced it won’t seek re-licensing of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, and will replace it with renewable energy projects.
The plant, near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, is the last operational nuclear power plant in California. It provides more than 2100 megawatts of power, which is enough to serve about 1.7 million homes.
The plant has been controversial it before it first went online more than three decades ago, with big concerns about its safety. A number of groups have opposed its relicensing because of seismic safety concerns. PG & E contends the facility is safe, but opponents say its proximity to earthquake faults poses a huge risk.
The proposal calls for the plant to be closed when its current operating permits expire in 2024 and 2025. The plan calls for the bulk of the power to be replaced with renewable energy projects. In a press release, the company says the proposal was developed in conjunction with environmental and labor groups which support the plan. Among the groups involved in the plan is the Natural Resources Defense Council.
