Coalition urges California to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant running until 2045

California’s sole nuclear facility, Diablo Canyon, was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2025, a date later pushed to 2030 by state officials including Governor Gavin Newsom. A coalition of nearly 50 entities—ranging from chambers of commerce to labor unions and local officials—now seeks to keep the plant operating until 2045, citing the surge in electricity demand driven by AI data centers, electric vehicles and building electrification.

Proponents highlight the plant’s carbon-free generation, which currently provides roughly 9% of the state’s electricity, whereas critics stress the aging 1980s-era reactors, the challenge of storing spent fuel, and the plant’s location near multiple fault lines. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a license extension that technically permits operation until 2045, but legislative approval is still required. Pacific Gas & Electric, the plant’s operator, argues that renewables and batteries cannot yet supply reliable round-the-clock power, while some experts contend that keeping the plant online may hinder further renewable development. The issue has been referred to the next legislative session, with Senator John Laird indicating a thorough review will occur in 2027.