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Diablo Canyon

Clean energy advocates call on Nuclear Regulatory Commission to move forward with Diablo Canyon licensing process

February 28, 2023 Work Area: Advanced Nuclear

In a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), clean energy advocates called for an exemption to be granted for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant to continue operations while its application for license renewal is under review. Clean Air Task Force (CATF) and Carbon Free California (CFC) explain that the exemption would allow Diablo Canyon to continue providing carbon-free energy to millions of Californians while the NRC conducts a thorough review of an application to extend operations to 2030.

In the letter, CATF and CFC state:

“It is imperative that Diablo Canyon Power Plant (“DCPP”) be granted this exemption in order to allow California to reduce carbon emissions in the state while meeting consumer electricity needs, and guard against serious grid reliability challenges.”

The letter also notes that the NRC has a track record of approving requests similar to Diablo Canyon’s:

“We believe that there is sufficient basis for the NRC Staff to grant PG&E’s exemption request to allow submission of the renewal application less than five years before license expiration in a manner that is consistent with previous decisions regarding similar applications. Indeed, the NRC has previously approved several requests for exemptions from the timely renewal requirements for Oyster Creek, Clinton, Perry, Nine Mile, and Ginna.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.


Press Contact

Samantha Sadowski, Communications Manager, U.S., ssadowski@catf.us, +1 202-440-1717

ABOUT CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.

ABOUT CARBON FREE CALIFORNIA

Carbon Free California is funded by California-based entrepreneurs and brings together leaders from business, labor, environmental and climate advocates, and the technology sector to focus on creating a pathway to a carbon-free future and securing the clean, reliable energy needed to power the world’s fifth-largest economy. Carbon Free California believes the state must pursue all forms of emission-free energy to address the climate crisis and achieve our urgent emission reduction goals. Extending the operation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant will bolster the grid with reliable carbon-free energy and enable the state to transition to increasing shares of wind and solar power, while avoiding disruptive and costly rolling blackouts. Carbon Free California receives no funding from utility or nuclear industry interests. 

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