Board of supervisors requests legislation supporting extended operations at Diablo Canyon
– The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has formally requested state legislation supporting extended operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, restoration of unitary tax treatment, and coastal land conservation and public access.
In a letter dated Feb. 5 and addressed to Sen. John Laird and Assemblymember Dawn Addis, the board expressed support for legislative action that would authorize Diablo Canyon Power Plant to operate for up to 20 additional years, restore unitary tax treatment during the extended period of operation, and support coastal land conservation and public access near the facility.
The board noted San Luis Obispo County is the host county for California’s only operating commercial nuclear power plant, which provides approximately 9% of the state’s total electricity generation. The letter states the plant plays a role in California’s clean energy infrastructure and that extending operations could provide carbon-free baseload power, strengthen grid reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support state climate goals.
The board emphasized that any extension of operations should include fiscal fairness for the communities that host and support the facility. The letter urges the Legislature to restore pre-decommissioning unitary tax treatment for the power plant during any extended period of operation. Historically, the board stated, unitary tax revenues have supported county and city services, school districts, special districts, public safety, educational programs, and infrastructure maintenance.
If restoration of unitary tax treatment is not feasible, the board requested alternate financial mitigations for the county and local jurisdictions affected by reductions in taxable value during extended operations, including impacts associated with restrictions on including operating costs in utility rate calculations.
The board also expressed support for conservation and public access frameworks for lands surrounding Diablo Canyon, stating that protecting coastal and natural resources can provide environmental stewardship while offering opportunities for responsible public access and public benefit.
The letter further requested that future property value allocations associated with changes in land assessments related to conservation designations not financially penalize the region through reduced assessed revenue.
In the letter, the board outlined three specific legislative requests: support for the federal regulatory approval process and establishment of a state licensing pathway to authorize extended operations at the plant; enactment of legislation restoring historic pre-decommissioning unitary tax treatment or providing equivalent financial mitigation; and support for the California Coastal Commission’s land conservation and public access plans for lands surrounding Diablo Canyon, in coordination with appropriate regulatory and conservation agencies.
Supervisor Jimmy Paulding, chair of the Board of Supervisors, signed the letter on behalf of the county. The letter states that multiple agencies reviewed and support the request.
