18 Aug (NucNet): Climate scientists have written to the governor of California asking for a proposal to close the two-unit Diablo Canyon nuclear station to be reconsidered because there are “serious questions” about whether the planned closure is good for ratepayers, the environment and the climate. In their letter, the scientists urged Edmund Brown to ask the California Public Utility Commission to delay consideration of any proposal to close Diablo Canyon until the legislature and the public, who will have to foot the bill, can openly debate how California can most quickly and cost-effectively stop the damage to the climate from electrical system emissions. Utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has agreed in a joint proposal with Friends of the Earth, the Natural Resources Defence Council, the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility and other groups to close the station in 2025. The scientists said: “Retirement of the plant will make a mockery of California’s decarbonisation efforts. Diablo Canyon’s yearly output of 17,600 gigawatt-hours supplies 9% of California’s total in-state electricity generation and 21 percent of its low-carbon generation. If Diablo Canyon closes it will be replaced mainly by natural gas, and California’s carbon dioxide emissions will rise.” They said the joint proposal does not come close to replacing this lost low-carbon power. It only mandates 4,000 GW/hrs per year of energy efficiency and, optionally, new renewable generation, to replace four times as much lost nuclear output. “And much of the demand reduction PG&E forecasts to replace Diablo will come about simply from customers switching from PG&E to alternate electricity providers, with no guarantee that their new electricity supply will come from low-carbon sources,” the scientists said. Under the proposal, Diablo Canyon would be retired by PG&E after its current operating licences expire in November 2024 and August 2025. There are several contributing factors, PG&E said, including California’s plans to increase renewables to 50 percent by 2030. The Diablo Canyon units began commercial operation in 1985 and 1986. The letter is online: http://bit.ly/2b3FWXp
