Biden Administration Approves $1.1 Billion to Keep California's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Running Through 2030
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The Biden administration has approved $1.1 billion in funding to help keep California's Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operating until at least 2030, 5 years beyond its planned 2025 closure.
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The funding is part of a plan supported by Gov. Newsom to keep the plant running to help prevent blackouts as climate change stresses the energy system.
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Environmental groups had previously reached a deal to close the 40-year-old plant by 2025, but the legislature voided that deal in 2022.
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PG&E has submitted an application to extend the plant's operating licenses by 20 years, but the state will control how long the reactors ultimately run.
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The fight over the plant comes as the struggling nuclear industry sees a potential rebirth due to its carbon-free energy, but environmentalists warn of safety risks and hindering clean energy development.