San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected an application Tuesday from PG&E (New York Stock Exchange: PCG), the operator of California’s last nuclear power plant, which could have paved the way for expanding the useful life of its twin reactors.
PG&E (PCG) asked the NRC in October to resume consideration of an application initially filed in 2009 to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, which was later withdrawn after the company announced plans in 2016 to shut down the reactors. .
Fearing potential power blackouts, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California legislature canceled a 2016 agreement to shut down the plant, clearing the way for PG&E (PCG) to seek longer operation from federal regulators.
But on Tuesday, NRC staff refused to go back in time to resume consideration of the previous license extension plan, saying it would “be neither effective nor efficient” to begin the review without updated information on the plant’s condition. .
Following the rejection, PG&E (PCG) said it will file a new application to renew its license for 20 years – the typical term – later this year.
The US Department of Energy said in November it would award a $1.1 billion grant to help PG&E keep the Diablo Canyon plant running.
