The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a 20-year operating licence renewal for the 2.2 GW Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo, California, United States (US NRC, 02/04/2026). The authority had received the application on November 2023 from the project’s operator, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), for the renewal of the operating licences of Units 1 and 2 of the power plant. Considering that the project complied with all the requirements for the extension, that its systems and structures comply with safety regulations and that it does not represent adverse environmental impacts, the licence was approved.
Although the licence extends for 20 years, the project can only operate until 2030, with operations past this date remaining pending due to local legislation. The project is estimated to provide about 8% of California’s electricity with its four-loop Westinghouse pressurized water reactors (PWRs).