Energy: nuclear powerplants: assessment

The assessment will examine whether new in-state nuclear plants can cost-effectively help California reach 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045 while maintaining grid reliability.

What the law does ​

• Requires the California Energy Commission to complete a comprehensive advanced-nuclear assessment by January 1, 2028.
• Requires analysis of costs, reliability, emissions, deployment timing, waste management, siting, environmental and public-health effects, security, workforce needs, and electricity needs after 2045.
• Requires comparison of nuclear energy with other current and projected electricity-generation pathways, including their waste and byproduct-management impacts.
• Requires consultation with the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Independent System Operator, and other state agencies as appropriate.
• Requires public workshops and stakeholder input from experts, developers, investors, utilities, labor, ratepayer advocates, and environmentalists.
• Allows the assessment to recommend changes to state laws and regulations and to be updated later.
• Allows specified public entities to evaluate nuclear energy for long-term resource needs despite current conditional limits on siting new nuclear plants.

Who it affects ​

• The California Energy Commission and other public energy-planning entities.
• Electric corporations, potential nuclear developers and investors, and electricity ratepayers.
• Skilled and trained workers who could construct, operate, and maintain future nuclear plants.