In letters: Diablo Canyon is not the ‘greenest thing’ | Opinion
Clean energy is not radioactive
Clive Pinder attempts to justify Diablo Canyon through statistical data, but he leaves out crucial facts:
1) Nuclear energy is not clean. It regularly emits radiation and other toxins into the air and ocean. Exposure to radiation usually doesn’t cause immediate death but causes DNA damage and future cancer. Read two 2025 reports from Harvard and Joseph Mangano on the negative health effects of living near nuclear reactors.
2) We have no solution to storage of high-level radioactive waste — toxic for hundreds of millenia. Do we really want to leave this to future generations?
3) Diablo Canyon is a terrorist target.
4) Diablo Canyon is located in an earthquake zone, with four faults in close proximity.
5) With political will and monetary investment in sustainable energy sources rather than dirty, dangerous, dinosaur Diablo Canyon and its like, we can create a society that uses wind, solar, geothermal and batteries to keep the lights on.
6) Federal nuclear regulations may be time-consuming, but they help keep us safe. Don’t blame Mothers for Peace for the rising energy costs. Look to PG&E and the huge subsidies given to Diablo Canyon to extend its operating life.
Linda Seeley
Los Osos
Pinder’s ‘cheerleading’
Clive Pinder’s April 12 opinion piece uses half-truths, omission of information and name-dropping to “cheerlead” continued operation of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant 20 years beyond its original permitted life span of 40 years (ending in 2025).
Despite the benefits, there are unmentioned risks with keeping it open. Agreed that carbon output is low, but it is not green power. Diablo has already produced approximately 2,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel, according to a fuel inventory prepared by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. It is temporarily stored and generates huge amounts of waste heat.
A nuclear disaster, although low in probability, represents massive risks to human/environmental health and property values. If we are forced to “take it for the team,” those of us living near the plant deserve a public hearing before Diablo is operated beyond 2030, as originally proposed.
Going forward, there are “true green” alternatives available and some large wind and solar projects already implemented. Rooftop solar was growing at 2-3 gigawatt (60 more by 2045!) installed capacity per year before special interests gutted net metering policy, stopping growth. That policy change may be reversed. A Chinese company recently developed a technology that provides base-load quality power from renewable energy output. Let’s imagine a “true green” future and make it happen.
Dean Thomas
San Luis Obispo
Cost is too high
Contrary to opinions expressed by Mr. Pinder (Tribune, April 12, “The Greenest Thing”), continued operation of the Diablo Canyon reactors is not in the public interest. It is expensive, dirty and unnecessary.
PG&E estimates a cost of between $8.4 billion and $11.8 billion to run Diablo Canyon until 2030, depending on which state and federal subsidies are included. Renewable energy sources are less expensive and do not pollute with either CO2 or radioactive wastes.
As for sun and wind energy not being sufficient, we also use hydroelectric and geothermal energy. In 2025 natural gas usage dropped by 40% as compared to 2023. And battery storage capacity has increased an impressive 1,900% since 2019.
The federal government has given Diablo permission to operate until 2045. However, the plant can’t operate beyond 2030 without additional approval by the California Legislature. San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, a local nonprofit, is working to convince state legislators that the people of California will be better served by less costly and truly green sources of energy.
Jane Swanson
San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace
Debunked research
Clive Pinder cites the debunked “research” by Michael Shellenberger and Leonard Rodman to support his claims about the benefits of Diablo Canyon and nuclear energy. But what he does is reinforce my opinion that he is more interested in goading a response to his commentary rather than in supporting his opinions with factual information.
Please check this out for a true analysis of the environmental hazards and high cost of nuclear energy: blog.ucs.org/mark-specht/does-california-need-new-nuclear-power-plants
Jill A. Stegman
Grover Beach
Keep vehicles off Oceano beach
A federal court recently ruled that the California Department of Parks and Recreation violates the Endangered Species Act by allowing motorized vehicle use that harms shorebirds at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The ruling also restricts that use. Since April 14, big signs at the Oceano beach vehicle ramp alert beach drivers that they cannot drive farther south than the Arroyo Grande Creek.
This is a unique opportunity for locals to visit and observe Oceano beach and dunes safely because there are no cars or buggies running you over. Don’t you wish it could stay like this forever?
Here is what you can do to make it happen. Walk on the beach from Pier Avenue to the south to enjoy one of the most spectacular beaches in California. Take pictures of the creek and its lagoon, the wildlife, sunsets, wild flowers, the crushing waves. Post your beauty photos on social media. Take friends along and document any plover activity or questionable State Parks activity or violation.
Sign our petition to the county Board of Supervisors urging it to review and change our Local Coastal Plan to ban driving on Oceano beach and dunes. Help us gather signatures. Patronize local businesses to increase revenues during the closure and prove that vehicles on the beach do not generate income. Let’s keep Oceano beach and dunes vehicles free forever!
Oceano Beach Community Association oceanobeach.org
Put your precious pooch on a can of beer
Do you think you have the coolest dog in San Luis Obispo County? What if your super cool pup were able to be featured on a beer can made by a local brewing company?
It is totally possible given a fundraiser and competition that There Does Not Exist is putting on with local nonprofit Dream Makers.
Take a photo of your dog and enter it into the competition. You can vote for your dog with $1 per vote, and all donations go to help making dreams come true for terminally ill adults in our community. The winner will also receive 100 cans of beer! Second and third places will have their dogs featured on the back of the ca. This is one of those wonderful opportunities for us to celebrate all the good things that make SLO so unique.
A caring heart for those in our community, enjoying the beautiful relationships of man’s best friend, and supporting locals. You can check out the link to sign up your dog today: gogophotocontest.com/dreammakersslo
Owen Schwaegerle
San Luis Obispo