Assembly Bill 1632 (Blakeslee, Statutes of 2006, Chapter 722), directs the Energy Commission to assess the vulnerability of the state's operating nuclear power plants to a major disruption due to a major seismic event or plant aging, the potential impacts of such a disruption, potential impacts from the accumulation of nuclear waste at the state's existing nuclear plants, and other key policy and planning issues regarding the future role of California's existing nuclear plants.

California's two operating nuclear power plants are Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo and the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Orange County. Nuclear power makes up 12.9 percent of California's electricity supply. These two plants are located in seismically active zones along California's central and southern coast. In addition, they generate spent nuclear fuel, which will be stored at the plants indefinitely until the federal government develops a permanent means for nuclear waste disposal.

The bill requires the Energy Commission to adopt the assessment by November 1, 2008, and include the assessment in the 2008 energy policy review.

For more information, please contact:

Barbara Byron
California Energy Commission
Executive OFfice
1516 Ninth Street, MS-39
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4976
E-mail: bbyron@energy.state.ca.us

News media, please call:

Claudia Chandler
Assistant Executive Director
Media & Public Communications Office
916-654-4989.