Federal regulators on Thursday cleared a path for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant to stay open for another two decades.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorized the 20-year extensions for the plant’s two reactors, which sit along the coast in San Luis Obispo County. Under the new federal licenses, Unit 1 can operate until 2044 and Unit 2 until 2045.

The decision clears a major hurdle for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who moved in 2022 to delay the plant’s retirement to prevent rolling blackouts as the state transitions to renewable energy.

Diablo Canyon is a massive piece in California’s power portfolio, generating about 9% of the state’s total electricity and 17% of its zero-carbon power.

“When the legislature and I partnered to extend Diablo Canyon’s operation past 2025, we made a commitment to Californians that tackling extreme weather and supporting a reliable grid are essential to building a safe, affordable, and resilient future for our state,” Newsom said in a statement.

Despite the federal extension, the plant’s future remains tethered to state politics.

Under current state law, Diablo Canyon is only authorized to run through 2030. To use the full length of the new federal licenses, the California Legislature will have to pass new laws to override the current expiration date.

The extension remains a point of contention for ratepayer advocates and environmental groups. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. recently estimated that California utility customers will pay approximately $7.6 billion to keep the plant running through 2030.

“Diablo Canyon is California’s really expensive old car,” David Weisman, legislative director for the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, previously told the Chronicle. “You can make the system redundant many times over, but at what cost?”

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