Basic Facts:

  • Location: Avila Beach, California
  • Owner: PG&E Corporation
  • Operator: Pacific Gas & Electric Company
  • Construction Cost: $14B (2018$)
  • Plant Output: 2,250 MW
  • Property Size: 1,000 acres
  • Scheduled Shut Down: Unit 1 (2024) and Unit 2 (2025)
  • Employees: 1,300
  • Current DTF Balance: $2.9B (2018$)
  • DTF Balance Prior to Decommissioning: $4.5B (2018$)
  • Decommissioning Cost Estimate: $1.0B (2018$)
  • Spent Nuclear Fuel On Site: 1,388 tons
(FILES) This file photo taken on March 17, 2011 shows an aerial view of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant which sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California.
Under a proposal announced on June 21, 2016 by Pacific Gas and Electric, the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, the states last operating nuclear facility, would be shuttered by PG&E after its current Nuclear Regulatory Commission operating licenses expire in November 2024 and August 2025. The power produced by Diablo Canyons two nuclear reactors would be replaced with investment in a greenhouse-gas-free portfolio of energy efficiency, renewables and energy storage, PG&E said in a statement. The power output loss would be compensated by using technologies that do not emit greenhouse gases, including renewable energy. 
 / AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Background

Diablo Canyon 1 and 2 are both pressurized water reactors coming online in 1985 and 1986 respectively. In 2016, PG&E announced that the operating licenses would not be renewed when they expire in 2024 (for Unit 1) and in 2025 (for Unit 2). Additional information on Diablo Canyon’s decommissioning planning efforts may be found here.

Socioeconomics

Diablo Canyon is located within San Luis Obispo County, California. As of 2016:

  • Population: 280,000
  • Per Capita Annual Income: $51,400
  • Unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted): 3.6%

Annual tax payments (approximately $15M) from Diablo Canyon account for approximately 6% of the county’s annual budget.

Contact Information

Economic Development Administration Representative:

  • Wilfred Marshall, Los Angeles Regional Office, t: (310) 348-5386, e: [email protected]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Unless specific costing information has been provided, decommissioning costs were derived from 2017 Decommissioning Funding Status Report.
Information herein obtained from public sources. Corrections are welcome and may be directed to [email protected].

Additional Information

PG&E requests federal extension of operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant

November 8, 2023

PG&E requests federal extension of operations at Diablo Canyon Power PlantIn 2016, California legislators decided to shut down the power plant – a decision that it reversed last year. The current operating licenses for Units 1 and 2 would otherwise expire in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

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Judge dismisses legal effort to shutter California’s last nuclear power plant

August 25, 2023

Judge dismisses legal effort to close Diablo Canyon The lawsuit tried to “prevent breach of a contract” Pacific Gas and Electric entered in 2016.

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PG&E gets go-ahead to spend $2.5 million on Diablo Canyon decommissioning report

July 12, 2023

PG&E gets go-ahead to spend $2.5 million on Diablo Canyon decommissioning report PG&E will pay a firm to analyze how ending Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operations in San Luis Obispo County could impact the environment.

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State Lands Commission Approves Extension of Diablo Canyon’s Lease

June 8, 2023

State Lands Commission Approves Extension of Diablo Canyon’s Lease Energy Nuclear Power Plant May Stay Put Through October 2030 The slow-motion crawl to keep the nuclear power plant at Diablo Canyon running vaulted another hurdle on Monday when the State Lands Commission approved extending the plant’s mean high-tide line lease off San Luis Obispo County.

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What should happen to 12,000 acres of Diablo Canyon lands? State reveals plan

May 17, 2023

What should happen to 12,000 acres of Diablo Canyon lands? State reveals plan After months of work on a plan for the future of 12,000 acres surrounding California’s last nuclear power plant, the state is outlining a vision for the land that mostly aligns with community members’ wishes.

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High-ranking federal officials explain safety, next steps in Diablo Canyon relicensing

May 4, 2023

High-ranking federal officials explain safety, next steps in Diablo Canyon relicensing The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hosted a public meeting on Wednesday night to hear concerns and explain the re-licensing process for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Community members got to hear directly from high-ranking federal officials as PG&E moves forward with plans to keep Diablo […]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ACCEPTS REP. CARBAJAL INVITATION TO HOST PUBLIC FORUM ON FUTURE OF DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT

April 27, 2023

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Accepts Rep. Carbajal Invitation to Host Public Forum on Future of Diablo Canyon Power Plant The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will host a public forum next month on the license renewal process for Diablo Canyon Power Plant, agreeing to an invitation from Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) to answer questions directly from Central […]

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NRC to hear arguments against Diablo Canyon ISFSI license renewal

April 27, 2023

NRC to hear arguments against Diablo Canyon ISFSI license renewal The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that an agency licensing board will hold oral arguments in a challenge to Pacific Gas and Electric’s application to renew its license for the Diablo Canyon independent spent fuel storage installation in California.

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NRC board to hear enviros’ case for forcing Diablo Canyon shut down

April 24, 2023

NRC board to hear enviros’ case for forcing Diablo Canyon shut down – ExchangeMonitor A Nuclear Regulatory Commission board in May plans to decide whether a citizen’s group can contest a utility’s plan to keep California’s last nuclear power plant running longer than planned, the commission said Monday.

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Lawsuit Seeks to Uphold Closing California’s Last Nuke Plant

April 12, 2023

Lawsuit Seeks to Uphold Closing California’s Last Nuke Plant LOS ANGELES (AP) – An environmental group on Tuesday sued to block Pacific Gas & Electric from seeking to extend the federal operating licenses for California’s last nuclear power plant.

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