There's Growing Local Support for Extending Life of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant | KQED

Diablo Canyon, California’s only active nuclear power plant, is located near a classroom on the Central Coast. The plant’s current license runs until 2030, but advocates are seeking an extension to 2045. Student and community activists argue that large amounts of clean power are needed because climate change is urgent. Activist groups that opposed the plant in the 1970s and 1980s say conditions are different now, with nuclear becoming more normalized. Public opinion research indicates support has increased nationally, especially among people living within a 10-mile radius who often know plant workers. Nuclear provides nearly 9% of the state’s electricity, and demand is rising due to electric vehicles, electrification of appliances, and data centers.

"Advocates, like Mousharrafie from the student club, want to keep it open until 2045.  "We need to build huge amounts of clean power cause the climate crisis is a now issue," he said."

"Ann Bisconti is a researcher who studies public opinion around nuclear energy. She said support has increased nationally since the 80s. "  There is lot more activism among those who are for nuclear energy.," she said. "What we always find is that people living within the 10 mile radius are very supportive of the local plant. They know people who work there. They go to church, they go to synagogue, they play baseball."

"Nuclear generates nearly 9% of the state's energy supply, part of an energy mix that includes gas, hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal and even small amounts of coal. While California's demand for electricity has been flat for years, it's now growing with the adoption of electric vehicles, people swapping gas appliances for electric ones, and data centers. The debate to keep Diablo Canyon open is spurred, in part, by this uptick in demand."

"Mothers for Peace is one of the activist groups that has fought against Diablo in the 70s and 80s. But Linda Seeley, who joined the movement shortly after moving to the Central Coast in 1982 said things are definitely different these days. "Nuclear is normalized now," she said."

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