Federal regulators accept PG&E’s Diablo Canyon application
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s License Renewal Application to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
Announced on Dec. 19, the NRC’s determination of sufficiency now allows PG&E to continue operating Units 1 and 2 at Diablo Canyon past their current licenses of 2024 and 2025, respectively, while the License Renewal Application is under review.
The announcement also comes after the California Public Utility Commission voted last week to approve the ratemaking design and new retirement dates for Diablo Canyon’s Units 1 and 2, now 2029 and 2030 respectively.
“PG&E remains committed to complying with energy policies to ensure the state has the option to keep DCPP online past 2025 to ensure electricity reliability as California continues toward its clean energy future,” Maureen Zawalick, Diablo Canyon vice president, said in a press release.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to continue providing homes and businesses across California with safe, clean, and affordable power.”
The NRC will continue evaluating PG&E’s application, which, if approved, would renew Diablo’s license for 20 years.
That does not mean the state will keep the power plant open another 20 years, as current legislation only calls to keep Diablo Canyon operational through 2030.
If the state feels it will still need Diablo Canyon past 2030, however, then PG&E would not have to go through the license renewal process again at that time.
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