California Lawmakers Vote to Keep Last Nuclear Plant Online (1)

California legislators voted to extend the life of the state’s last nuclear power plant by five years as protection against blackouts -- provided the federal government pays much of the cost.

The legislature approved a proposal by Governor Gavin Newsom to keep the Diablo Canyon plant, owned by PG&E Corp., running through 2030, rather than closing as previously planned in 2025. California’s gas-fired power plants have been retiring faster than solar and wind facilities can replace them as the state fights climate change. As a result, Newsom pitched extending Diablo Canyon’s lifespan as a way to prevent blackouts during ...