Michael Picker, President
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Re: Application 16-08-006 –Proposed Decision—Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company for Approval of the Retirement of Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
Dear Commission President Picker:
I am writing to ask that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reconsider its proposed decision on the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) joint agreement. The DCPP joint agreement represents a sustainable path forward for all stakeholders in San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast as we transition away from nuclear power to renewable sources of energy.
I am concerned that the proposed decision, announced on November 8, 2017, undermines important parts of the DCPP joint agreement that assists our community in moving toward a renewable future. Specifically, the rejection of the $85 million for the Community Impacts Mitigation Program (CIMP), the reduction of the Employee Retention Program from $363 million to $171 million, and the possible loss of converting Diablo’s energy generation to renewable sources would be a loss for our community.
The DCPP joint agreement was developed by key stakeholders in San Luis Obispo County, which considered all the impacts of decommissioning the power plant. In crafting this, PG&E partnered with labor and leading environmental groups including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, the Coalition of California Utility Employees, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, California Energy Efficiency Industry Council and Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility. This is a plan for the closure of Diablo Canyon that prepares our community for the loss of jobs and anticipates the need for developing new sources of energy for the people of California.
I believe it is critical to maintain the CIMP because it is designed to stabilize the same levels of funding currently received by the community. For fiscal year 2015-2016, San Luis Obispo County received over $20 million in tax revenue for essential services like public safety, education, and roads. The CIMP maintains school quality, an essential tool for a qualified workforce, by giving our schools and community time to prepare and mitigate for the loss of revenue following plant closure.
I am also concerned by the reduction to the Employee Retention Program that will help sustain skilled labor and our economy on the Central Coast and prevent the possible early closure of the power plant. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has reassured me that its standards for the safe operation of the plant will not alter. As we move toward full decommissioning in 2025, I am concerned about the loss of skilled workers due to retirement or out-of-town job opportunities. This highly technical workforce is necessary to maintain safety standards as the plant continues to operate and it must be sustained in order to avoid premature decommissioning.
Again, I ask that you reconsider the recommendations of the proposed decision and the impacts that would undoubtedly be a detriment to the people of the 24th Congressional District. By working together through the original DCPP joint agreement, we can make the transition to renewable energy a benefit for Californians, ratepayers, and the people of the Central Coast. I will continue to work with the community to achieve the goals of the DCPP joint agreement and keep our local economy thriving as the Diablo Canyon decommissioning process moves forward.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
SALUD CARBAJAL
Member of Congress
Cc: California Public Utilities Commission Board Members
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