Can California Resurrect Its Lone Nuclear Power Plant Because Of Climate Change?

Can California Resurrect Its Lone Nuclear Power Plant Because Of Climate Change?

Diablo Canyon Power Plant is an electricity-generating nuclear power plant at Avila Beach in San ... [+] Luis Obispo County, California. The plant has two pressurized-water nuclear reactors operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. The plant was started in 1968 and completed in 1973 The facility is located on about 750 acres (300 ha) in Avila Beach, California. Together, the twin 1, 100 MW reactors produce about 18, 000 GW of electricity annually, supplying the electrical needs of more than 2. 2 million people. Diablo Canyon is designed to withstand a 7. 5 magnitude earthquake from four faults, including the nearby San Andreas and Hosgri faults. Equipped with advanced seismic monitoring and safety systems, the plant is designed to shut down promptly in the event of significant ground motion. (Photo by Gerald L French/Corbis via Getty Images) Some Californians and powerful scholars are trying to resurrect nuclear energy in the state from the dead. They want PG&E Corp. to keep its Diablo Canyon plant in operation past its planned closure for 2025. The reason: California cannot meet its climate change obligations without it. "We are seeing that current nuclear plants are under threat because of business models," says Arjun Majumdar,