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PG&E Agrees to Close Diablo Canyon, California's Last Nuclear Plant

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Aerial view of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant which sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California on March 17, 2011.  (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced Tuesday it will close Diablo Canyon, California’s last nuclear plant, in 2025, putting an end to the state’s nuclear era. As part of an agreement with several environmental groups, PG&E plans to replace Diablo Canyon with clean energy rather than fossil fuels. This plan has support from a variety of environmental groups — including Friends of the Earth and the Natural Resources Defense Council — but some have criticized shutting down such a large source of carbon-free power, questioning the feasibility of PG&E’s plan to replace Diablo with renewables. In this hour of Forum, we’ll discuss the plans for shutting down Diablo Canyon and how it might impact the state’s future energy needs.

Related Coverage

The End of An Era, California to Close Last Nuclear Power Plant (KQED Science)

Guests:

Damon Moglen, senior strategic advisor, Friends of the Earth

Michael Shellenberger, president, Environmental Progress

Lauren Sommer, science and environment reporter, KQED Public Radio

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