Episode
Why California is Rethinking its Nuclear Exit
- Podcast
- KQED's Forum
- Published
- Aug 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3314
- Processing state
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Summary
California’s only remaining active nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon on California’s Central Coast, was supposed to shutter in 2025, but a series of heat waves and stress on the grid prompted state leaders to keep it running through 2030. And now, as demand for electricity skyrockets, a new push is growing to reverse the state’s decision to abandon nuclear power, and to extend the plant’s life through 2045. We’ll talk to advocates who have been fighting the nuclear plant since the very beginning about the risks of continuing operations, and from those who believe nuclear power is necessary to meet California’s mandate to switch to 100% carbon-free energy by 2045. Guests: Jane Swanson, president and spokesperson, Mothers for Peace Michael Wara, policy director for the Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability and director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program and senior research scholar at the Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University Adrian Covert, senior vice president of public policy, Bay Area Council Laura Klivans, climate reporter, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices