Diablo Canyon, California’s last operating nuclear power plant, will close by 2025. Everyone agrees on that.
But how to replace the plant’s 2.3 gigawatts of energy without adding carbon emissions — and how to keep its workers and surrounding communities supported through its eventual retirement — are much more contentious issues.
On Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission heard a final set of oral arguments over the proposed decision that will guide Diablo Canyon’s nearly decade-long glide path to closure, and lay the groundwork for PG&E to procure the energy, capacity and reliability resources to take its place.