U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Approves License Renewal Application for Extended Operations of Diablo Canyon

Three-Year Process Included Approvals from State Agencies to Keep Safe, Reliable and Affordable, Carbon-Free Resource Online to Serve Millions of Californians

AVILA BEACH, Calif., April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) today approved Pacific Gas and Electric Company's 20-year license renewal application for extended operations of Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

The NRC's approval follows a transparent and public process through which the agency determined that Diablo Canyon is safe and environmentally sound to operate for another 20 years, though extending operations past 2030 would require action from the California Legislature.

The three-year license renewal process also included approvals from state and regional agencies including the California Public Utilities Commission, the State Lands Commission, the California Coastal Commission and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Diablo Canyon provides safe, reliable, affordable and clean electricity to about four million Californians and makes up nearly 20% of California's clean energy.

"The NRC's approval of Diablo Canyon's license renewal application marks an important milestone for California's energy future," said Pacific Gas and Electric Company CEO Sumeet Singh. "Diablo Canyon is the state's largest source of clean energy and a cornerstone of reliability. Every day, we maintain an unwavering focus on operating a safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy system that can meet growing demand in a changing climate. The NRC's thorough and thoughtful review underscores the strength of our commitment, and we are proud of Diablo Canyon's continued role in supporting California's focus on net-zero energy."

Acting Director of the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Jeremy Groom called Diablo Canyon an integral part of the Central Coast community and a stabilizing force for California's electric grid.

"Today's milestone reminds us that when discipline, science, responsibility and vision all come together, we can build an energy future that is both sustainable and secure," Groom said during a license renewal-signing ceremony Thursday morning. "Diablo Canyon's procedures and oversight have evolved throughout the years and through rigorous review, continuous inspection and technical refinement. This license renewal reflects that strength of commitment and confidence earned through a thorough and transparent NRC review."

Groom also recognized PG&E for its engagement throughout the license renewal process.

Groom noted that Diablo Canyon's license renewal marked the NRC's 100^th renewed operating license for U.S. power plants.

Commitment to Safety

PG&E agreed with environmental and labor groups in 2016 to retire Diablo Canyon's Unit 1 in November 2024 and Unit 2 in August 2025.

In 2022, after statewide rotating power outages during a heat wave in 2020 and new energy demand projections, California lawmakers passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 846, directing Diablo Canyon to run through 2030 for its grid reliability and clean energy supply.

In 2023, at the California State Legislature's direction, PG&E submitted its license renewal application to the NRC.

"Throughout the license renewal process and our more than 40-year history, we've demonstrated our constant commitment to operating Diablo Canyon with safety at the forefront," said PG&E Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Paula Gerfen. "It's a privilege to continue powering California's clean energy future, and we realize we must earn the right to do so every day by operating at the highest levels of safety, performance and reliability."

Beyond being the state's largest source of clean energy, Diablo Canyon runs around the clock 365 days a year. That makes it a steady power source as energy needs increase across the state.

A 2025 report from the California Energy Commission found that "[electric] system reliability is expected to continue to significantly improve due to [several factors that include] the near-term retention of Diablo Canyon Power."

Overall, the California Energy Commission expects peak electricity demand to grow by more than 20 gigawatts by 2045. That is equal to the energy of nine Diablo Canyons.  

Diablo Canyon's extended operations through 2030 include financial benefits of $450 million annually due to avoided greenhouse gas emissions.

Diablo Canyon's extended operations through 2030 are expected to annually reduce greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to carbon-dioxide emissions from 1.6 million cars.

About Diablo Canyon Power Plant

Diablo Canyon Power Plant is the state's largest source of clean energy and generates more than 2,200 megawatts of baseline electricity, enough electricity to power the lives of four million Californians every day.

It employs nearly 1,300 employees and is one of the largest private employers in San Luis Obispo County, located in California's Central Coast region. On average, PG&E and its employees provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in programmatic grants and charitable donations every year within San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. PG&E employees also volunteer thousands of hours of personal time each year to after-school athletic programs, environmental organizations, churches, and other community organizations.

About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company