California’s decades-long resistance to nuclear power is showing signs of breaking down as the state confronts rising electricity demand, high utility rates and the practical difficulties of maintaining a reliable grid primarily with intermittent renewable generation. Diablo Canyon, California’s last operating nuclear plant, has already received federal approval to operate into the 2040s, although state law currently limits operations to 2030 without further legislative action. At the same time, lawmakers are considering whether advanced nuclear technologies should play a role in meeting California’s mandate for carbon-free electricity by 2045. The change marks a striking policy reversal for a state that spent decades restricting nuclear development, suggesting that reliability, cost and growing electricity demand are forcing policymakers to reconsider assumptions that once seemed politically settled.
Key Takeaways
- California is reconsidering nuclear energy after decades of opposition, with policymakers examining both continued operation of Diablo Canyon and the potential future deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.
- Diablo Canyon supplies more than 8 percent of California’s in-state electricity generation, providing continuous carbon-free power that complements intermittent solar and wind resources.
- Federal regulators have licensed Diablo Canyon into 2044 and 2045, but keeping the reactors operating beyond 2030 will require California lawmakers to change existing state policy.
In-Depth
California’s long hostility toward nuclear power is beginning to yield to the practical demands of reliability, affordability and decarbonization. Diablo Canyon, the state’s last operating nuclear plant, was once scheduled to close by 2025. Instead, lawmakers extended operations through 2030 after concerns grew that California could not safely discard a major source of round-the-clock, carbon-free electricity while simultaneously electrifying transportation and other sectors.
The shift is significant. Federal regulators have renewed Diablo Canyon’s licenses through 2044 and 2045, although California law still requires legislative approval for operation beyond 2030. The plant’s two reactors generated more than 8 percent of California’s in-state electricity last year, providing firm power that does not depend on sunshine, wind conditions or large-scale battery discharge.
Sacramento is also reconsidering its broader restrictions on nuclear development. Lawmakers have advanced legislation directing the state to examine advanced nuclear technologies and whether they could economically contribute to California’s mandate for 100 percent clean electricity by 2045. That represents a notable departure from decades of policy shaped by concerns over reactor safety and long-term nuclear-waste disposal.
Opponents maintain that solar, wind and battery storage can meet California’s needs more cheaply and quickly. Yet the state still imports roughly one-quarter of the electricity it consumes, while its residential electricity prices remain among America’s highest. The emerging nuclear debate therefore exposes a basic policy question: whether ideological resistance should continue limiting dependable generation technologies when California simultaneously demands more electricity, lower emissions and a reliable grid for households and businesses alike statewide.
Sources
- https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/diablo-canyon
- https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2026/diablo-canyon-power-plant-operations-assessment-report-2026-update
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1757
- https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/04/02/governor-newsom-welcomes-approval-of-diablo-canyon-license-renewals-delivering-on-californias-commitment-to-a-clean-and-reliable-grid/