Legislation to mitigate impact of Diablo closure approved by senate committees
– This week, bipartisan legislation, authored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), to mitigate the impact of the Diablo Canyon plant closure, earned key committee approval. Senate Bill (SB) 1090 passed out of both the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality.
“I want to thank my colleagues for their bi-partisan support of SB 1090 in both the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. They recognized the bill’s tremendous value to the San Luis Obispo community, region, and California,” Senator Monning said. “As the closure of Diablo Canyon moves forward, SB 1090 will help mitigate the economic impacts of plant retirement and protect workers, communities, and the environment”
“I’m disappointed that the plant is closing,” said Assemblymember Cunningham. “But without a thoughtful plan for the Diablo retirement, there is a risk of premature closure and significant safety and energy supply concerns. This bill, SB 1090, will give the community and the state time to transition, and cushion the blow to our local economy.” For years, Diablo Canyon has provided an emissions-free energy supply to consumers – making up 10 percent of the state’s energy portfolio. Additionally, the plant contributes an estimated $1 billion to the economy, including thousands of jobs.
The measure calls on the CPUC to approve elements of the Joint Proposal, as modified by the community impact mitigation settlement, which was submitted as part of the Diablo retirement application; requires the CPUC to approve the community impact mitigation settlement of $85 million; directs the CPUC to manage its integrated resource plan to ensure that there is no increase in green-house gas emissions as a result of the retirement of Diablo Canyon; requires the CPUC to approve full funding of the $350 million employee retention program; and requires the CPUC to establish an expedited advice letter process for approval and implementation of the community impact mitigation settlement and employee retention program.
SB 1090 will be heard next in the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
