California’s Diablo Canyon Plant Shows Nuclear Power’s Aging Problem

California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant has had a tumultuous history. The plant’s two reactors came online in 1985 and 1987, following more than a decade of protests and legal battles. More recently, despite consistently providing about 9% of California’s electricity, the plant was scheduled to close its two reactors in 2024 and 2025. But in 2022, California lawmakers passed legislation enabling Diablo Canyon to remain open until 2030, and state and federal regulators recently approved the extension. Diablo Canyon’s reprieve is a rare bright spot for U.S. nuclear power,...