California environmental regulators declined on Thursday to grant a key approval needed to keep the state’s only nuclear power plant operating, demanding that Pacific Gas and Electric first agree to place a large swath of land into conservation.
What happened: The California Coastal Commission rejected its staff’s recommendation that it approve a federal consistency certification and state coastal development permit PG&E needs before it can receive final approval to continue operating the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in San Luis Obispo. The commissioners told their staff to go back to the negotiating table to hash out a new deal with the utility.
Why it matters: PG&E needs Coastal Commission approval to obtain the 20-year renewal of its federal license to operate the nuclear power plant, which is a centerpiece of the utility’s energy production.
Context: State Sen. John Laird and Assemblymember Dawn Addis, both Democrats whose Central Coast districts are home to Diablo Canyon, took issue with the plan that staffers put forward to mitigate the environmental impacts of power plant operations.
