Jennifer Klay: SLO County Should Have a Seat at the Table on Diablo Canyon's Future

As discussions continue about the proposed extension of Diablo Canyon Power Plant through 2045, San Luis Obispo County has an opportunity to help shape what that future looks like.

Diablo Canyon has long been a cornerstone of the Central Coast, providing reliable carbon-free electricity, supporting thousands of jobs, generating local tax revenue, and helping preserve thousands of acres of protected coastal land. As the conversation moves forward, local leaders have an important role to play in ensuring the best possible outcome for residents, workers, schools, businesses, and the environment.

Recently, Mothers for Nuclear board member Jennifer Klay submitted the following Letter to the Editor to the San Luis Obispo Tribune in response to an editorial discussing whether the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors should advocate for Diablo Canyon's continued operation.

Here is Jennifer's letter:

Supervisors Should Advocate for Diablo

Originally published as a Letter to the Editor in the San Luis Obispo Tribune (July 5, 2026). Republished here with permission.

The Tribune is right that SLO County should fight for its fair share if Diablo Canyon operates beyond 2030. But that is precisely why the Board of Supervisors should be at the table, not standing outside with a whistle.

Calling support for Diablo Canyon "cheerleading" dismisses what is at stake for this county. Diablo is one of our largest employers, a source of reliable low-emission electricity and the reason thousands of acres of coastal land have remained protected from the kind of development The Tribune itself has criticized. Its continued operation is not a favor to PG&E; it is a question of jobs, grid reliability, climate goals and local revenue.

Of course the county should demand clear answers on taxes, spent fuel, safety and ratepayer impacts. But advocacy and oversight are not mutually exclusive. In fact, refusing to join the conversation would make it harder to secure the very protections the Editorial Board says it wants.

If The Tribune believes an extension to 2045 is nearly inevitable, then the practical question is not whether supervisors should sit on their hands. It is how SLO County can use its influence to secure the best outcome for residents, schools, workers and ratepayers.

— Jennifer Klay, San Luis Obispo

Why This Matters

The future of Diablo Canyon will have lasting impacts on San Luis Obispo County. As discussions continue, it is important that local officials are actively engaged in conversations about the plant's future while advocating for the interests of the communities they represent.

Mothers for Nuclear believes that supporting Diablo Canyon's continued operation and ensuring strong oversight are complementary goals. By participating in the process, local leaders can help secure benefits for residents, protect public safety, support local jobs, strengthen grid reliability, and advance California's clean energy goals.

If you'd like to learn more about the proposed license extension and opportunities for public participation you can learn more on the Diablo Canyon 2045 website.