US grants 1.1B to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open

MAHMOUD BENNETT: THIS IS THE DIABLO CANYON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA. IT’S THE STATES LAST OPERATING NUCLEAR FACILITY AND HAS BEEN OPERATING SINCE 1985.

IN 2021 IT SUPPLIED OVER 8% OF THE STATES ELECTRICITY, AND PRODUCED 64% OF ALL ITS NUCLEAR POWER. THAT’S A LOT OF ENERGY, BUT THE PLANT IS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE IN 2025, AS CALIFORNIA MOVES AWAY FROM NUCLEAR ENERGY.

NOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN PUMPING IN OVER A BILLION DOLLARS TO KEEP THE PLANT OPEN.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAYS ITS A STEP TOWARD ENSURING NUCLEAR ENERGY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELIABLE POWER AS THE NATION’S LARGEST SOURCE OF CLEAN ELECTRICITY.

CRITICS OF THE NUCLEAR PLANT SAY ITS HAZARDOUS GIVEN CALIFORNIA’S VULNERABILITY TO EARTHQUAKES AND THE METHODS OF DISPOSING RADIOACTIVE WASTE.

BUT SHUTTING THIS DOWN WOULD TAKE OUT CALIFORNIA‘S LARGEST SOURCE OF CARBON FREE ENERGY, IN A STATE THAT’S ALREADY PLEDGED CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2045, WHILE GRAPPLING WITH RECENT ENERGY SHORTAGES.

THE ONE BILLION DOLLAR FUNDING TO KEEP THE DIABLO CANYON PLANT OPEN COMES FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW SIGNED INTO LAW LAST YEAR BY PRESIDENT BIDE. WHILE IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE PLANT WILL REMAIN OPEN, THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT SAYS IT CREATES A PATH FORWARD FOR NEGOTIATIONS.