Four members added to Diablo Canyon decommissioning panel

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel (DCDEP) have announced the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of two members to the panel.

The newly appointed members, Ernest 'Gerry' Finn, Jessica Kendrick, Patrick Lemieux, and Frances Romero, will begin their terms in May 2023. Kara Woodruff and Bob Pavlik have been reappointed, according to a report by Paso Robles Daily News.

The panel provides community input to PG&E as the company prepares a site-specific plan for the future decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) and spent fuel management. The panel comprises community members who reflect diverse viewpoints in proximity to the plant, and they were selected through a competitive process that involved in-depth reviews by current panel members and PG&E representatives.

Diablo Canyon Power Plant could operate up to 2030

Diablo Canyon Power Plant could operate up to 2030. 

The California state legislature has passed Senate Bill 846, co-authored by Senator Bill Dodd and Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham. The legislation seeks to extend operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) up to 2030.

The County of San Luis Obispo has been actively engaged in the state legislative process regarding the future of DCPP. As the host community for the plant, the County continues to work with federal, state, and local partners to plan for the future of DCPP. The plant plays a significant role in the County’s economy and community, and the County is working to ensure the community’s interests are represented in the safety, environmental, and other regulatory processes and decisions that lie ahead.

PG&E consider seeking federal funds for Diablo Canyon Power Plant

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) wants to make a last-minute change to its rules for the $6 billion aid package to save struggling nuclear power plants. This change would help the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in particular.

For its part, PG&E said for the first time that it would like to apply for some of the aid and change its 2016 decision to close the nuclear power plant on the coast of San Luis Obispo County.

Suzanne Hosn, a spokesperson for the company, in a June 21 statement said the company is willing to ask the DOE for money.

The U.S. Department of Energy is proposing changes to the rules for federal aid applicants to make room for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. This is part of a rush to keep the plant from closing.