PG&E Seeks to Improve Safety at Diablo Canyon Amid Public Concerns

AVILA BEACH, Calif. — PG&E is taking steps to improve safety at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, but one local group remains concerned.

California’s last nuclear power plant was originally scheduled to shut down this year, but state lawmakers extended its operation through 2030.

Now, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has applied for a 20-year license extension that could keep the Diablo Canyon Power Plant running through 2044 and 2045, according to Linda Seeley, spokesperson for Mothers for Peace.

Mothers for Peace, a nonprofit organization that has opposed nuclear energy and waste since the 1970s, continues to raise safety concerns.

“We have a tremendous amount of concern now about safety issues that are current at the plant,” Seeley said.

On March 18, the group sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, urging that one of the reactor vessels at Diablo Canyon — Unit 1, capsule B — be shut down and tested for embrittlement. The condition, caused by aging and continuous use, can pose serious risks if not addressed.

About 1,000 additional workers are currently at the plant, preparing for a scheduled outage of Unit 1. Testing is expected to take approximately 18 months.

“When we got the call from the governor’s office to continue to operate through 2030, there were a number of things that we needed to do for our license renewal application,” said Maureen Zawalick, vice president of business and technical services at Diablo Canyon.

The planned outage is part of routine operations, alternating between the two units. Prior to the state’s directive to continue operations, PG&E had planned to decommission the plant.

“We’ve always run this plant with high safety and maintenance — per the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or federal safety regulator requirements,” Zawalick said.

As the plant prepares to take Unit 1 offline for refueling, both units are expected to return to service in about one month.

PG&E says it values public input and is taking the necessary steps to ensure its equipment is safe and up to date.