SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) issued the following statement
today following the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC)
issuance of a proposed decision on the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP)
joint proposal:
"The DCPP joint proposal represents the most appropriate and responsible
path forward for our customers, employees, the local community and the
environment. The agreement supports our state's clean energy vision and
ensures an orderly transition from nuclear power to other greenhouse
gas-free resources, while supporting our local plant workers and
neighbors.
“While the proposed decision preserves several elements of the joint
proposal, it differs in regards to certain key areas, including the
employee, community and energy replacement programs. PG&E strongly
disagrees with these proposed adjustments. All of these programs support
the key focus of the joint proposal, which is having DCPP serve as a
reliable and affordable clean energy bridge to 2025 while other
greenhouse gas-free replacement resources are developed to replace the
output we need to meet customer demand.
“PG&E and the joint parties have responded to stakeholder insights and
feedback with several adjustments during the CPUC’s review process, and
accordingly, we believe that the joint proposal in its current state
deserves approval. We look forward to advocating for this in our
comments back to the CPUC and during final arguments at the end of
November.”
According to the CPUC, after a 25-day public comment period, the
proposed decision will be forwarded to the regulatory agency’s
commissioners for consideration. Final oral arguments at the CPUC will
be held on November 28. PG&E has requested that a final decision on the
joint proposal be reached this year.
About the Joint Proposal
California's energy landscape is changing dramatically. State policies
that focus on renewables and energy efficiency, coupled with projected
lower customer electricity demand in the future, will result in a
significant reduction in the need for the electricity produced by DCPP
past 2025.
Reflecting this change, PG&E partnered with labor and leading
environmental organizations on a joint proposal that would increase
investment in energy efficiency and renewables while retiring DCPP at
the end of its current Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) operating
licenses, which expire in 2024 and 2025.
The parties to the joint proposal include PG&E, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, Coalition of California
Utility Employees, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense
Council, California Energy Efficiency Industry Council and Alliance for
Nuclear Responsibility.
Recognizing that the procurement, construction and implementation of a
GHG-free portfolio of energy efficiency and renewables will take time,
the joint parties agreed to support PG&E in obtaining the state
approvals needed to operate DCPP to the expiration of its current NRC
operating licenses.
This avoided an early shutdown of DCPP and associated negative economic
and social impacts, including replacing the plant's output required to
meet customer demand with non-GHG-free resources.
As part of the joint proposal, PG&E immediately ceased any efforts on
its part to renew the DCPP operating licenses, and asked the NRC to
suspend consideration of the pending DCPP license renewal application.
PG&E will withdraw its license renewal application upon CPUC approval of
the joint proposal application.
PG&E does not believe long-term customer rates will increase as a result
of the joint proposal.
Commitment to Employees and the Community
The parties to the joint proposal are committed to supporting a
successful transition for DCPP employees and the greater San Luis Obispo
community.
Accordingly, $85 million has been proposed in support of a community
transition plan. PG&E, along with San Luis Obispo County, several local
cities and the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, announced
details of the revised community
impact mitigation program last November.
PG&E's proposed DCPP employee program will provide, among other things,
incentives to retain employees during the remaining operating years of
the plant, a retraining and development program to facilitate
redeployment of a portion of plant personnel to the decommissioning
project or other positions within the company, and severance payments
upon the completion of employment at the end of the plant's license life.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San
Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of
the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and
Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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Source: PG&E