California is reconsidering its stance on nuclear power as it seeks to meet ambitious clean energy targets. The state is debating extending the operational life of its last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, and exploring the possibility of permitting new nuclear reactors, marking a significant shift from past opposition.
Located on the Central Coast, the Diablo Canyon Power Plant has been a focal point of controversy since it was first proposed in 1963. Currently, it remains California’s sole operating nuclear facility after the closure of others, including the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in 2013. Diablo’s two reactors, which began operating in the mid-1980s, generated more than 8 percent of the state’s electricity last year.
Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature have expressed increased openness toward nuclear energy, leading to the passage last month of a bill mandating a study on easing the state’s decades-old moratorium on new nuclear power plants. The original ban stemmed from concerns over the lack of a federal repository for permanently storing spent nuclear fuel, a challenge that remains unresolved. However, current legislative focus has shifted more toward the role of nuclear energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving California’s goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2045. This clean energy category includes renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and nuclear.
Supporters of nuclear power argue that reactors like Diablo Canyon provide stable, carbon-free electricity essential for meeting the state’s climate aims while sustaining grid reliability. The plant’s operators, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), highlight its cost-effectiveness compared to potential alternatives and its contribution to reducing fossil fuel reliance equivalent to removing 1.6 million gasoline cars from the roads annually. The plant’s license has been extended federally through 2045, but state approval is required to continue operations beyond 2030, the most recent extended closure date.
Federal support includes a $271 million contribution toward Diablo’s operations in August, with potential for further funding reaching up to $1.1 billion to cover equipment and fuel costs under a federal program. Utility leaders, including those from Southern California Edison, have welcomed the state’s greater openness to nuclear power, emphasizing the need for sustained, zero- or low-carbon energy sources that reliably supply electricity throughout the day and year.
Despite growing official support, nuclear energy faces resistance from some residents and energy experts who argue California can achieve its clean energy goals through expanded renewables and battery storage, which currently provide about 70 percent of the state’s electricity generation. Critics point to high electricity rates, with California among the most expensive states for consumers, and contend that new nuclear projects tend to exceed initial cost estimates, potentially raising costs further. They advocate for greater investment in solar, wind, and battery technologies, which they consider faster and cheaper to deploy.
Energy experts suggest extending the life of existing nuclear plants like Diablo is more feasible than building new reactors, which could trigger contentious debates. The recent legislative bill instructs the California Energy Commission to study the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of advanced nuclear technologies to help achieve the state’s clean energy ambitions.
As California grapples with balancing clean energy sources, reliability, and cost, its decisions may influence broader national policies on nuclear power and the role it could play in addressing climate change and energy demands in the coming decades.