Op-Ed: California needs to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open to meet its climate goals (via latimesopinion)
The effects of climate change are unmistakable and severe around the world and in California, with record temperatures, drought and wildfires of unprecedented ferocity and destruction. Moving toward deep decarbonization is of paramount importance.Timing matters. Most of the carbon we emit today stays in the atmosphere and warms the planet for centuries. To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we need to avoid carbon dioxide emissions even as we aim to reach zero emissions by mid-century.
Carbon-free power is also essential for system reliability and resilience because, beyond the short-term variability, there are weeks and months when wind and solar power are low and storage technologies are of inadequate duration. This is not an either/or situation: California needs both Diablo Canyon and renewables to significantly reduce emissions over the next two decades.
The MIT-Stanford study found that Diablo Canyon could be repurposed to become a power source for water desalination and for clean hydrogen production, operating as a polygeneration facility. Diablo Canyon’s continued operation would thus help address three of the state’s largest challenges: energy reliability, persistent drought, and the transition to emission-free transportation and industry — two sectors that are challenging to decarbonize.
Revisiting the decision to close Diablo Canyon will involve many stakeholders, including federal regulators needed to permit restart of the license extension process. But that dialogue needs to happen because the stakes are so high.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Op-Ed: No, Michael Flynn, America doesn't need one religionTo the founders, if government dictates religious belief or favors one faith over another, it's tyranny.
Read more »
Illinois paid $694 million to keep nuclear plants open, showing why greening the grid is so hardNuclear power finds itself caught between cheaper sources of carbon-emitting energy and heavily subsidized clean power sources like wind and solar.
Read more »
Op-Ed: Art imitates life — not even a plastic crocheted coral artwork can stand up to climate changeOp-Ed: Art imitates life — not even a plastic crocheted coral artwork can stand up to climate change (via latimesopinion)
Read more »
Op-Ed: There's only one real solution for the supply chain issues: Stop consuming so muchThe pandemic helped expose the human and ecological toll of ever-cheaper goods. That awakening is the beginning of the end of careless consumerism.
Read more »
Messi scores maiden Ligue 1 goal as 10-man PSG open huge leadLionel Messi scored his first Ligue 1 goal as Paris St Germain opened a 12-point lead at the top despite playing almost half an hour with 10 men in a 3-1 home win against Nantes on Saturday.
Read more »
Jordan Turpin details moment she escaped 'house of horrors': 'That was my only chance'Three years after she escaped her parents' California home to save herself and her 12 siblings, Turpin is opening up about her harrowing experience.
Read more »