California’s lieutenant governor on Friday directed the State Lands Commission to draw up a plan for a thorough environmental review of PG&E’s Diablo Canyon power plant, the state’s last operational nuclear power plant.

PG&E’s leases with the state for two structures associated with the 2,240-MW power plant, which is located on the coastline in San Luis Obispo County, are set to expire in 2018 and 2019, respectively. PG&E is looking to extend those leases through 2025.

The lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom, said the plant should have to pass a broad California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, which it was not subject to prior to opening in 1985.

“On the one hand we have Fukushima etched in our memories, and on the other hand we are tackling fossil-fuel-driven climate change,” Newsom said. “This is incredibly complex and of no surprise that decisions have been avoided.” read more