The Blaze reports that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has just signed a bill to keep the state’s last nuclear energy plant open.
The last remaining nuclear energy plant in California is the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant located in San Luis Obispo. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reports that it provides low-carbon electricity for more than 3 million people, or about 5% of the state’s electricity.
Nonetheless, it has been the subject of much controversy for several years now, with environmentalists speaking out against its operation. At one point, California was planning to retire the plant. But, in 2016, California reversed course, keeping the plant open.
Now, it appears that the plant will remain open for at least several more years.
The latest
Newsom signed a bill on Friday that provides a $1.4 billion loan – mostly paid for by the federal government – that will keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant going through at least 2030.
Newsom signed the bill after it passed through this Democrat-controlled California legislature this week. It did so with bipartisan support, although it did have some opposition from climate change activists.
Some consider the approach that California is taking here somewhat hypocritical, especially considering that Newsom signed several other green measures while also signing this non-green measure for the nuclear power plant.
It is, though, still in line with the state’s goal of using only clean sources for electricity by 2045.
California’s problem
There are many reasons why California can’t simply go all green, as many environmentalists would wish. One of the biggest reasons is that green electricity just can’t keep up with the state’s demand for power.
We were provided with an example of this just recently as California has been calling for voluntary electricity conservation because green energy sources, given the current conditions, are struggling to keep up with demand.
Newsom has suggested that this is why he signed the bill to keep the nuclear plant open.
“Climate change is causing unprecedented stress on CA’s energy system and I appreciate the Legislature’s action to maintain energy reliability as the State accelerates the transition to clean energy,” Newsom said.