California’s last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, has received state approval to continue operations for at least five more years.
The California Coastal Commission voted on Thursday to allow Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the plant’s owner, to keep the facility open until 2030. This decision requires PG&E to conserve 4,000 acres of surrounding land, preventing future commercial or residential development. Diablo Canyon, located along the San Luis Obispo shoreline, is the state’s largest energy source, providing nearly 10% of California’s electricity.
The approval process reignited debates about the environmental impact of nuclear power. Critics, including environmental groups and some Native tribes, voiced concerns over the plant’s effects on marine life and radioactive waste. Diablo Canyon’s cooling system reportedly kills nearly 2 billion larval fish annually. Despite these concerns, the plant is seen as a reliable, carbon-free energy source, especially as California faces increasing energy demands…