Feds to decide whether state’s last nuclear plant stays or goes

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Federal regulators have restarted the process of deciding whether California’s last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, will remain open for decades.

And like most everything else in Diablo’s long, contentious history, the move is sure to provoke a fight.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has reported that it would once again begin processing a request from plant owner Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to renew Diablo’s operating licenses, set to expire in 2024 and 2025. That request has been on hold since shortly after Japan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster rekindled fears of nuclear danger.

PG&E applied in 2009 to renew Diablo’s licenses for 20 years, arguing that California would need the plant near San Luis Obispo to combat climate change. The commission’s license extension process takes years to complete — hence, PG&E’s early application.

Read more: http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Feds-to-decide-whether-state-s-last-nuclear-6371664.php?t=62be22933900af33be&cmpid=fb-premium

[Hekate]

1. Jesus, just get rid of the thing. It's in my neighborhood, more or less, & is Fukushima-in-waiting

At least this is an opportune moment to have this battle, with Fukushima still causing trouble and periodically in the news.

[cstanleytech]

2. Hell I wish they would get rid of all of the nuke plants its just not a safe form of energy for

humans imo.

[emsimon33]

3. We need to close it.

[JDPriestly]

4. Let's start a major project similar to the project to split the atom and this time try to develop

solar powered batteries and a delivery system for solar energy.

Go, Bernie.

I hope that Californians are allowed to weigh in on this and not just PG&E.

[tularetom]

5. The frickin thing is sitting right over a fault

Which of course was only "discovered" after it was built.