Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Saturday, April 13, 2019


CGNP IRP Comments at CPUC 04-04-19 Gene Nelson, Ph.D.
I'm reminded of the fable, 'The Emperor's New Clothes" when
ALJ Fitch noted without Diablo Canyon, the set of IRPs submitted will not be adequate to meet the GHG emissions goals and could even challenge grid reliability. CGNP is an independent group of technical and legal experts concerned with public safety. Here are key points from CGNP's recent Reply Comments.

1. CGNP first asks for PG&E to reverse their voluntary plans to retire Diablo Canyon in 2025.
2. California's current plan for California's energy future is to burn more, not less fossil fuel, particularly natural gas. CGNP provides real-world examples in their reply comments and Appendix of the principle that operating firming generators in an intermittent, inefficient manner results in increased emissions relative to steady operation of those generators.
3. Massive fossil-fuel lobbying also diminishes California's public safety - particularly in light of California's aging natural gas bulk transmission and storage system. Here's CGNP's October 7, 2017 OpEd describing how the operation of Diablo Canyon enhances public safety from the Santa Maria Times.
4. Even PG&E recognizes the stellar safety record of 35-year-old Diablo Canyon. At the recent Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Committee meeting, PG&E told the Committee that it is rotating some of Diablo Canyon's safety experts to other PG&E business units. Furthermore, PG&E's former CEO Geisha Williams reiterated the necessity of continued deployment of nuclear power to fight climate change.
CGNP's Reply Comments were just sent to Federal Judge William H. Alsup's Courtroom Deputy in connection with the ongoing federal criminal case USA v PG&E. A copy of the transmittal letter is here for the record. In this letter, CGNP offered its significant technical and legal expertise to serve as a friend of the Court in the federal criminal proceeding. PG&E, please withdraw your harmful Diablo Canyon plan to enhance your stature in the federal criminal case.

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