AVOID AN ENERGY CRISIS, SAVE DIABLO

California’s energy situation is critical. There are increasingly frequent flex alerts where citizens are told to conserve power when they most need power to do domestic tasks. Customers are being automatically switched to rate plans which have higher costs during times of peak demand, on top of rates that are already the fourth highest in the nation. Hydroelectric generation is decreasing due to drought, leaving only nuclear and unpredictable wind as emission-free sources for evenings. To meet demand, California is buying more natural gas, building “temporary” gas power plants and waiving emissions limits. There is not enough electricity, let alone clean electricity. Adding more solar and wind has potential to help, but it is not enough o. We still need a large baseload capacity to provide power through the times when solar and wind aren’t available. The picture is dire, and it will get worse as we continue to electrify transportation and heating infrastructure, as planned. This is a full-blown energy emergency - California is clearly not on track to meet clean energy and climate goals while still providing for her citizens. Simultaneously, California is planning to shut down the single largest source of emission-free power, Diablo Canyon, however, there are still four years until the shutdown - plenty of time to change hearts and minds and create the political will to make this happen. Most of the work for relicensing is already done. We must use every possible resource available in this emergency, there needs to be bold leadership to take actions that might, at first, seem unpopular. We are focused not only on fighting climate change, but also maintaining standards of living and ensuring that marginalized, poverty-stricken communities are not subject to further hardship. As things stand now, closing Diablo would lead to terrible environmental, social and economic consequences. WE NEED TO STOP THIS. PLEASE KEEP DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT OPEN.