Diablo Canyon Shutdown Will Leave California Devoid of Nuclear Power
And then there were none. Despite the massive power problems plaguing the state of California, PG&E has been continuing the decommissioning process, which started in 2016, for its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Yet, California is pushing very aggressive climate goals, goals that could be achieved with the help of nuclear power. So, what gives?
The Impetus for the Diablo Canyon Shutdown
Diablo Canyon has been in operation since the mid-1980s. The regulatory licenses for the plant’s two reactors expire in 2024 and 2025. While there are 3 other California nukes in various stages of being decommissioned, Diablo Canyon is the last one standing so to speak. The plant currently accounts for roughly 9% of California’s power generation capacity.
Surely the nuke, which is a source of clean energy, could help California achieve its stated goal of 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045. So, the question is – why shut it down?
Well, the answer is not cut and dry and largely depends on who is asked. While the answers may vary, the primary reason is likely due to the deeply held anti-nuclear agenda in the state. Essentially, the anti-nuclear politics are more powerful and organized than the politics driving climate policy. Think tug-of-war, with the heavy guys on the anti-nuke side.
Another reason, one that makes more sense, is that the plant is located near several earthquake fault lines. These fears essentially materialized on the heels of the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
Other reasons cited include the fact that nuclear energy is more expensive than energy from other sources, generates radioactive waste that can persist for hundreds of years, and is often feared because of past events like what happened at Chernobyl. Finally, the backdrop is much different in 2021 compared to 2016 when the decommissioning started, but unfortunately, once the decom process starts, it is prohibitively expensive to put the toothpaste back in the proverbial tube.
Yes, it seems strange, but once you understand the various perspectives involved, it makes a little more sense. The bottom line is that Diablo Canyon is going offline, which means that California will need to accomplish its climate goals via wind, solar, hydro and other non-nuclear clean energy sources.
