California's legislature has passed Assembly Bill 2647, which would require the California Energy Commission to study the potential expansion of nuclear energy as the state aims for 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045. The bill now sits with Governor Newsom. The state currently operates only one nuclear plant, Diablo Canyon, and has a moratorium on building new ones, upheld by the Supreme Court in 1983. The study would assess system costs, reliability, safety, waste, and siting, including how nuclear might complement a high-renewable grid. Supporters argue advanced nuclear could lower electricity costs and create jobs, while opponents warn of safety risks and the pressure to relax regulations to cut costs, especially given rising energy demand from AI.
