California Keeps Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor Running 5 More Years

[Elderberry]

Legal Insurrection by  Leslie Eastman 12/21/2025

The Iron Law of Electricity for the win: San Luis Obispo County is now looking to add additional reactors to the plant.

There have been a couple of fascinating developments that touch upon two subjects I cover for Legal Insurrection: California and nuclear power.

A few years ago, California was asking electric vehicle drivers not to charge their cars.  The grid was weak, as energy consumption was high because of a summer heat wave (or as climate cultists like to refer to it, a “heat dome”).

So, as presumptive 2028 candidate Gavin Newsom prepares for his campaign’s official launch, there is some pre-planning to avoid the embarrassment of statewide brownouts or blackouts during his run.  Such an event would give Newsom’s adversaries both within and outside the Democratic Party a big target that would resonate with many Americans, who no longer believe the “climate crisis” narrative.

At the time of the original report, there were plans to close the state’s last remaining nuclear power plant: Diablo Canyon. Miraculously, the plant has had its life extended by a whopping 5 years.

    California environmental regulators on Thursday struck a landmark deal with Pacific Gas & Electric to extend the life of the state’s last remaining nuclear power plant in exchange for thousands of acres of new land conservation in San Luis Obispo County.

    PG&E’s agreement with the California Coastal Commission is a key hurdle for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to remain online until at least 2030. The plant was slated to close this year, largely due to concerns over seismic safety, but state officials pushed to delay it — saying the plant remains essential for the reliable operation of California’s electrical grid. Diablo Canyon provides nearly 9% of the electricity generated in the state, making it the state’s single largest source.

More: https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/12/california-keeps-diablo-canyon-nuclear-reactor-running-5-more-years/

[DefiantMassRINO]

Build the power plants in Tiajuana, and export the electricity to California for $$$.

Scarcity creates value.

[DB]

The state and environmentalist wanted the plant closed because it uses ocean water to cool the reactors. The temperature of the sea water near the plant was higher and created an "unnatural" habitat for sea life in it... They demanded the plant not use sea water to cool because it "damaged" the natural environment. They (government) refused to renew its license to operate if they didn't. They wanted PG&E to put in cooling towers instead - on a plant that was designed to use sea water. It made no economic sense to do so, so they agreed to close it.

As the planned shutdown went forward over several years, they wound down operations including the supply chains and skilled labor that produced components that were required for continued operation. Renewables were going to replace the 10% of electricity that plant supplied California.

The state and federal government were idiots.

So then after major shortages of electricity the government geniuses decided to extend operations. It cost a huge amount of money to get the supply chain and expertise back up again to continue operations - all paid for by the rate payers in the state.

Electricity is about triple in cost in California of what it is in Arizona. All brought to Californians by idiot politicians - that they keep electing over and over again...

[DefiantMassRINO]

Manatees winter in warm pools created by power plant hot water discharges.

The best early Winter near-shore fishing in Boston was next to the Boston Edison electric plant in South Boston.

What do the environmentalists say about those thermal vents off the California coast warming the water?

Natural Selection is based upon adapt or perish.  Nature has comeback from multiple near-extinction events.  Nature is tough, resilient, and adaptable.

[PeteS in CA]

The Hanoi Jane movie "The China Syndrome" was Hollywood's contribution to the effort to prevent the completion and commissioning of Diablo Canyon.

[Kamaji]

The Hanoi Jane movie "The China Syndrome" was Hollywood's contribution to the effort to prevent the completion and commissioning of Diablo Canyon.

I remember that movie.