May 18, 2022
The head of a leading green group on Wednesday joined a coalition of environmental organizations in opposing the extended operation of an aging California nuclear power plant slated to shut down by 2025 but given a new lease on life this week by the Biden administration.
Reutersreports the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Wednesday that it was extending by 47 days a deadline for two nuclear plants--Entergy Corporation's Palisades plant in Covert, Michigan and PG&E's Diablo Canyon plant in San Luis Obispo County, California--to apply for federal funding to keep running.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG):
Two powerful nuclear industry lobby groups sent a letter this week to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm requesting the extension, which she granted two days later... The decision throws a lifeline to the expensive and unsafe facility PG&E owns, which initially had until May 19 to apply for the funds, and now has until July 5.
But the lifeline may violate DOE guidance, which says only nuclear plants in states with deregulated energy can apply for a share of the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program, a fund designed to help nuclear reactors keep operating. Diablo Canyon is in California, which fully regulates utility power generation, so it shouldn't be eligible.
EWG president Ken Cook said in a statement that "even by PG&E's own history of billion-dollar misguided spending sprees, throwing taxpayers' money away to keep the unsafe Diablo Canyon nuclear plant on life support has to be one of the worst."
"The residents of California have waited long enough to finally see this dangerous, decrepit facility closed for good," he continued. "Letting PG&E continue to run the facility on the backs of taxpayers is a waste of scarce resources and only further delays moving the state and the nation toward a future of safe and abundant renewable electricity."
\u201c.@ENERGY throws aging, dangerous Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California a lifeline by giving owner PG&E more time to apply for billions in federal funds to keep it operating. https://t.co/tnG18EwvN4\u201d— EWG (@EWG) 1652910181
EWG said it opposes keeping the 37-year-old nuclear plant open because it is expensive--maintenance costs soared by $110 million between 2011 and 2017 alone--it poses a danger to marine life, and is a general safety hazard. In 2014 a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspector urged the plant's closure, as one of its reactors is considered one of the most embrittled units in the nation.
"Any chance PG&E can get to take money away from the people, they will," Cook argued. "Just ask any one of the millions of captive ratepayers the company regularly smacks with increased monthly bills. Grabbing billions in taxpayer dollars to keep Diablo Canyon on the money-making side of the ledger is a no-brainer for PG&E."
Cook's statement comes a day after a coalition of environmental groups sent a letter to Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, urging him not to keep the plant operating beyond its scheduled closing by 2025. Last month, Newsom signaled that he is open to "keeping all options on the table" to ensure California has a reliable electricity grid.
"Your suggestion to extend the operational life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility is an outrage," the groups wrote. "Diablo Canyon is dangerous, dirty, and expensive. It must retire as planned."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
nuclear powergavin newsomcaliforniajoe bidenus department of energyenvironmental working groupenvironment
The head of a leading green group on Wednesday joined a coalition of environmental organizations in opposing the extended operation of an aging California nuclear power plant slated to shut down by 2025 but given a new lease on life this week by the Biden administration.
Reutersreports the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Wednesday that it was extending by 47 days a deadline for two nuclear plants--Entergy Corporation's Palisades plant in Covert, Michigan and PG&E's Diablo Canyon plant in San Luis Obispo County, California--to apply for federal funding to keep running.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG):
Two powerful nuclear industry lobby groups sent a letter this week to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm requesting the extension, which she granted two days later... The decision throws a lifeline to the expensive and unsafe facility PG&E owns, which initially had until May 19 to apply for the funds, and now has until July 5.
But the lifeline may violate DOE guidance, which says only nuclear plants in states with deregulated energy can apply for a share of the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program, a fund designed to help nuclear reactors keep operating. Diablo Canyon is in California, which fully regulates utility power generation, so it shouldn't be eligible.
EWG president Ken Cook said in a statement that "even by PG&E's own history of billion-dollar misguided spending sprees, throwing taxpayers' money away to keep the unsafe Diablo Canyon nuclear plant on life support has to be one of the worst."
"The residents of California have waited long enough to finally see this dangerous, decrepit facility closed for good," he continued. "Letting PG&E continue to run the facility on the backs of taxpayers is a waste of scarce resources and only further delays moving the state and the nation toward a future of safe and abundant renewable electricity."
\u201c.@ENERGY throws aging, dangerous Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California a lifeline by giving owner PG&E more time to apply for billions in federal funds to keep it operating. https://t.co/tnG18EwvN4\u201d— EWG (@EWG) 1652910181
EWG said it opposes keeping the 37-year-old nuclear plant open because it is expensive--maintenance costs soared by $110 million between 2011 and 2017 alone--it poses a danger to marine life, and is a general safety hazard. In 2014 a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspector urged the plant's closure, as one of its reactors is considered one of the most embrittled units in the nation.
"Any chance PG&E can get to take money away from the people, they will," Cook argued. "Just ask any one of the millions of captive ratepayers the company regularly smacks with increased monthly bills. Grabbing billions in taxpayer dollars to keep Diablo Canyon on the money-making side of the ledger is a no-brainer for PG&E."
Cook's statement comes a day after a coalition of environmental groups sent a letter to Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, urging him not to keep the plant operating beyond its scheduled closing by 2025. Last month, Newsom signaled that he is open to "keeping all options on the table" to ensure California has a reliable electricity grid.
"Your suggestion to extend the operational life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility is an outrage," the groups wrote. "Diablo Canyon is dangerous, dirty, and expensive. It must retire as planned."
The head of a leading green group on Wednesday joined a coalition of environmental organizations in opposing the extended operation of an aging California nuclear power plant slated to shut down by 2025 but given a new lease on life this week by the Biden administration.
Reutersreports the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Wednesday that it was extending by 47 days a deadline for two nuclear plants--Entergy Corporation's Palisades plant in Covert, Michigan and PG&E's Diablo Canyon plant in San Luis Obispo County, California--to apply for federal funding to keep running.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG):
Two powerful nuclear industry lobby groups sent a letter this week to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm requesting the extension, which she granted two days later... The decision throws a lifeline to the expensive and unsafe facility PG&E owns, which initially had until May 19 to apply for the funds, and now has until July 5.
But the lifeline may violate DOE guidance, which says only nuclear plants in states with deregulated energy can apply for a share of the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program, a fund designed to help nuclear reactors keep operating. Diablo Canyon is in California, which fully regulates utility power generation, so it shouldn't be eligible.
EWG president Ken Cook said in a statement that "even by PG&E's own history of billion-dollar misguided spending sprees, throwing taxpayers' money away to keep the unsafe Diablo Canyon nuclear plant on life support has to be one of the worst."
"The residents of California have waited long enough to finally see this dangerous, decrepit facility closed for good," he continued. "Letting PG&E continue to run the facility on the backs of taxpayers is a waste of scarce resources and only further delays moving the state and the nation toward a future of safe and abundant renewable electricity."
\u201c.@ENERGY throws aging, dangerous Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California a lifeline by giving owner PG&E more time to apply for billions in federal funds to keep it operating. https://t.co/tnG18EwvN4\u201d— EWG (@EWG) 1652910181
EWG said it opposes keeping the 37-year-old nuclear plant open because it is expensive--maintenance costs soared by $110 million between 2011 and 2017 alone--it poses a danger to marine life, and is a general safety hazard. In 2014 a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspector urged the plant's closure, as one of its reactors is considered one of the most embrittled units in the nation.
"Any chance PG&E can get to take money away from the people, they will," Cook argued. "Just ask any one of the millions of captive ratepayers the company regularly smacks with increased monthly bills. Grabbing billions in taxpayer dollars to keep Diablo Canyon on the money-making side of the ledger is a no-brainer for PG&E."
Cook's statement comes a day after a coalition of environmental groups sent a letter to Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, urging him not to keep the plant operating beyond its scheduled closing by 2025. Last month, Newsom signaled that he is open to "keeping all options on the table" to ensure California has a reliable electricity grid.
"Your suggestion to extend the operational life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility is an outrage," the groups wrote. "Diablo Canyon is dangerous, dirty, and expensive. It must retire as planned."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.