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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press inquiries:
Dr. Gene Nelson, Legal Assistant
Californians for Green Nuclear Power
P: 805-363-4697
government@cgnp.org

Group Warns of Legal Action if Climate Impacts of Diablo Canyon Shutdown Aren't Included in Environmental Report

ARROYO GRANDE, CA July 20, 2021 – Californians for Green Nuclear Power, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the use of safe, carbon-free nuclear power to fight climate change, submitted a letter to San Luis Obispo County officials last week demanding the impacts on climate change be considered in an upcoming Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The report is required before decommissioning of Diablo Canyon Power Plant could begin.

Under terms of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an EIR must be performed "to inform decision makers and the public about the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects, and to reduce those environmental impacts to the extent feasible."

California law mandates EIRs must include analysis of a "No-Project Alternative" - what impacts would be avoided by not closing the plant at all.

Biophysicist Gene Nelson, who serves as Legal Assistant for the group, emphasized why consideration of climate change impacts is essential. "Diablo Canyon's carbon-free electricity prevents over 15 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year - the CO2 emitted by 3 million cars on the road," he said. "It's why the California Environmental Quality Act became law in the first place: to prevent long-lasting, negative consequences for the environment that might result from ill-considered business decisions."

A civil engineer who played an integral role in the the implementation of the Procurement Quality Assurance Program for Diablo Canyon, Joe Ivora, expressed concern losing the plant would add to the reliability problems plaguing California's grid. "Unlike wind and solar farms, Diablo Canyon generates 'round the clock, baseload electricity. Without its stabilizing effect on grid voltage and frequency, the ongoing cycle of midsummer blackouts will only get worse," he said.