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Gene Nelson, Ph.D.'s avatar

The one place where California Governor Newsom seems to be an energy realist is keeping Diablo Canyon [Nuclear] Power Plant (DCPP) running. Previously, Governor Newsom opposed DCPP. However, independent nonprofit Californians for Green Nuclear Power (CGNP) contacted Newsom's cabinet secretary circa March, 2022. The message was that California's electricity needs to remain reliable if you want to eventually become U.S. President. Governor Gray Davis was recalled for the California electricity blackouts caused by ENRON from 1999-2001. CGNP remained in contact with Governor Newsom. Other nuclear power advocacy groups weighed in. The result was Governor Newsom signing California SB 846 on September 2, 2022. CGNP continued its relentless advocacy despite the aggressive lobbying of likely DCPP opponent PacifiCorp, a firm that wants to sell even more coal-fired power to California. Recently, the Democrat-controlled legislature attempted to dismantle part of the DCPP extended operations plan. Governor Newsom prevented the dismantlement. Interested readers may learn more by visiting our GreenNUKE Substack at https://greennuke.substack.com/ . CGNP has additional background information at our website, https://CGNP.org

P.S. Another piece of California energy vulnerability is the state importing 95% of its natural gas. For many years, CGNP has criticized this vulnerability before regulatory and oversight bodies. Almost all of the natural gas pipelines serving the state cross the southern section of the San Andreas Fault. When that section ruptures - and it could be soon - those natural gas pipelines will be difficult to repair, particularly after each major aftershock - for the next decade or so.

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Alexander Scipio's avatar

Ya get what ya vote for. Good and hard.

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