CGNP's Public Comments Before the California SEUC on 08/19/2025
California has an ongoing need for Diablo Canyon's power with its unique characteristics
The California Senate Energy Utilities and Communications (SEUC) annual Oversight Hearing, "Reliability of the Power Grid and an Update on Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant's Extended Operations" on August 19, 2025 ran from 9:00 AM to noon at hearing room 1200 at 1021 O Street in the California Capitol complex, then continued at 1:54 PM and ran for about a half hour longer.
The agenda is found at
https://seuc.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2025-08/08-19-25-agenda.pdf
I was able to speak directly with California Senator Josh Becker at the conclusion of the hearing. He chaired the hearing. My discussion focused on California legislative extension of Diablo Canyon Power Plant's operations to 2045. Based on our conversation, I believe he is supportive of this proposed legislation.
I appreciated California Senator Shannon Grove's comments in support of Diablo Canyon Power Plant's extended operation during her questions and comments. I also spoke to her after the hearing and thanked her for her Diablo Canyon support.
After her presentation, I thanked PG&E Vice President Maureen Zawalick for her presentation regarding the environmental and ratepayer benefits of Diablo Canyon extended operations.
The 3:11:06 video of the hearing is at
https://www.senate.ca.gov/media/senate-energy-utilities-and-communications-committee-20250819
For ease of precise finding, downloading the 4.3 GB file yields the best results. CGNP's speech runs from 2:55:08 to 2:57:10
Here are my two minute public comments. I was the first commenter.
Hello, Senator Becker and SEUC Committee Members:
My name is Dr. Gene Nelson. I'm with Californians for Green Nuclear Power (CGNP.)
Based on the experience in the Iberian Peninsula on Monday, April 28, 2025, CGNP believes that California very nearly had an Iberian Peninsula type blackout on Sunday, May 4, 2025 as a consequence of very low synchronous grid inertia (SGI) for the California grid. CGNP carefully compared the California grid conditions on May 4 at solar noon to the supply reported by the Spanish grid operator , Red Eléctrica at 12:30 PM on April 28, 2025. California had considerably less SGI in the grid mix than Spain. Not all electricity is created equal. We explain the significance of this in our article "The Spanish Version of the 'Duck Curve' is a real killer. This curve underscores the problem of insufficient synchronous grid inertia in Spain on April 28, 2025," July 8, 2025, GreenNUKE Substack. https://greennuke.substack.com/p/the-spanish-version-of-the-duck-curve and
Here's a PDF of our updated PowerPoint. (All remaining Gifford Fire evacuation orders in San Luis Obispo County, California were lifted at 6:16 PM PDT on Sunday, August 24, 2025.)
https://cgnp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Californias-Near-Miss-for-an-Iberian-Peninsula-Type-Blackout-05-04-25-Rev-B.pdf
In 2011, the eminent scientists and engineers of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) recommended building about 30 Diablo Canyon Power Plants, not reactors, for California's electricity supply.
Just like Spain needs to keep its seven nuclear reactors running long into the future, California needs to keep Diablo Canyon running for grid reliability.
BONUS Number 1 from The Wall Street Journal:
Nuclear Power Is Having a Pop Culture Moment
Atomic energy has attracted influencers, spawned merch and even made a cameo on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’
Aug. 13, 2025 11:00 am ET
No-cost download link for the entire article:
https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/nuclear-power-is-having-a-pop-culture-moment-7a92f762?st=QzTuPW&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
(I was behind the camera looking at several people I know when this photograph was taken.)
BONUS Number 2: Isabelle Boemeke's just-released book endorsing nuclear power, with a focus on Diablo Canyon Power Plant:
Rad Future: The Untold Story of Nuclear Electricity and How It Will Save the World
by Isabelle Boemeke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition ($15.99) https://www.amazon.com/Rad-Future-Untold-Nuclear-Electricity-ebook/dp/B0DFLG7RXW/
5.0 out of 5 stars (11)
#1 New Release in Physics of Energy (08/24/2025)
We’re running out of time. Fossil fuels are choking the planet and renewable energy isn’t cutting it. The solution has been hiding in plain sight all along…..
BONUS Number 3: Bloomberg News offers a surprisingly upbeat article regarding Diablo Canyon Power Plant's nuclear power.
California’s Last Nuclear Plant Is Poised to Stave Off Extinction
Diablo Canyon is nearing the end of a long relicensing process as the need for round-the-clock power grows.
By Michelle Ma
August 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM PDT Updated on
August 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM PDT
No-cost download link https://tinyurl.com/Bloomberg-08020-2025
Unit 2’s turbine generator at PG&E’s Diablo Canyon power plant.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Here's a relevant August 24, 2025 Quiver Quant post regarding PCG stock movement in connection with the anticipated Diablo Canyon NRC license renewal in August, 2025:
https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Pacific+Gas+%26+Electric+Co.+Stock+%28PCG%29+Opinions+on+Diablo+Canyon+Renewal+Decision
I agree with one of your core points. Not all electricity is created equal. In many energy discussions, people often focus solely on the metric of total power generation, overlooking the importance of grid stability and synchronous inertia. Renewable energy sources are certainly important, but they are also highly volatile, as demonstrated in the cases of Spain and California. Extending the life of Diablo Canyon isn't just about maintaining a single power plant; it's about keeping the heart of the entire grid beating steadily. I believe the future energy landscape won't be a binary choice of solar vs. nuclear, but a diversified mix: nuclear power + renewables + energy storage. California is making a pragmatic move by retaining nuclear power as a cornerstone of stability while promoting new energy sources