An organization called the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility is making headlines for revealing that Pacific Gas & Electric in California is planning to spend a whopping $12 billion on extending the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant until 2030.
The Environmental Working Group has thrown its support behind this cause, urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to rethink his support for this extension, which would keep the state’s only operating nuclear plant open for business.
The controversy stems from PG&E disputing the $12 billion estimate, claiming that the actual cost won’t exceed $8.3 billion. The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Facility, located in San Luis Obispo County, is currently operational and generates a significant amount of clean electricity each year.
The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility has raised concerns over PG&E’s cost estimates, accusing the company of potentially underestimating the true expenses. They lodged a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission, highlighting discrepancies in the projected costs for extending Diablo Canyon’s operations.
Although PG&E maintains that the total costs for the extension will stay within $8.3 billion, other sources suggest a figure closer to $12 billion, excluding the additional expenses required for safety upgrades.
Despite the controversy, Governor Newsom had previously expressed support for a “limited-term extension” of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. California aims to be fully reliant on nuclear energy by 2045, as mandated by a law passed in 2018, which also includes plans to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.