The California Coastal Commission declined Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) request for a federal consistency certification and a state coastal development permit, both of which are needed for a new 20-year operating license for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
The Commission did not accept its staff recommendation to approve the requests at the November 6, 2025 meeting, but instead said PG&E must place thousands of acres of land into conservation for approval of the coastal development permit. The land is needed to mitigate the impact of the plant’s cooling system, which uses about 2.5 billion gallons of seawater per day, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
The federal consistency certification is needed for a new 20-year federal operating licenses is for Diablo Canyon’s two electricity generating units, Unit 1 and Unit 2. The coastal development permit is needed for operation of the generating units for an additional five years to 2029 and 2030, as authorized under S.B. 846.
The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant is the largest power source in California and provides 8.6% of the state’s electricity, including approximately 17% of its zero-emissions electricity. The plant’s two units were scheduled to be retired in 2024 and 2025, but concerns over anticipated power shortages during the state’s transition to renewable energy led to growing support for keeping it open. (See California Keeps Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Open.)
The two sides must still negotiate the timing and process of the land conservation deal. The Coastal Commission will decide on an updated mitigation plan in December.