Statement by State Senator John Laird on CA Coastal Commission Vote Approving Extended Operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2025
Contact: Khalida Sarwari
Statement by State Senator John Laird on CA Coastal Commission Vote
Approving Extended Operations at Diablo Canyon Power Plant
SACRAMENTO – State Sen. John Laird made the following statement today following the California Coastal Commission’s decision to allow Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which owns the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, to keep the facility open until 2030.
“The Coastal Commission’s decision on Diablo Canyon is a major victory for land conservation and public access, ensuring that future generations will benefit from the conservation of these special lands,” said Laird, who represents San Luis Obispo County, where Diablo is located. “Of the 12,000 acres surrounding the plant, there is now a clear path to conserve 7,000 -- a remarkable expansion from the 1,100 acres proposed just a month ago. The Commission approved a full conservation easement on the North Ranch, rights of first refusal for public, as well as nonprofit conservation and tribal organizations to acquire additional lands, and a path to preserve the iconic 2,400 acres of the beloved Wild Cherry Canyon. Twenty-five miles of trails were approved along with $10 million from PG&E to build them, and there is now a defined process in the near future to conserve the remaining 5,000 acres of the South Ranch.”
Laird, who participated in the Commission’s December 11 hearing, said the 9–3 vote reflects decades of work by the people of San Luis Obispo County, including a countywide vote 25 years ago to protect these lands and expand public access.
“Today, their long-held vision has been realized, and this coastline will be conserved and made available for public access for present and future generations,” he said. “I am grateful to everyone who helped bring us to this momentous day.”