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# SAN LUIS OBISPO Generators at Diablo Canyon gain new life
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/san-luis-obispo-generators-at-diablo-canyon-gain-new-life/
- Published: 2006-12-16T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:23:45.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

The California Coastal Commission removed a proposed 9,000-acre conservation requirement while granting Pacific Gas and Electric Co. permission to replace life-extending generators at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant.

PG&E agreed Thursday to conserve 1,200 acres surrounding the Point San Luis Lighthouse. The utility had originally agreed to conserve 620 acres but increased it to 1,200 acres to woo commissioners. Commission staff and environmentalists argued that conserving land is necessary to offset the damage the plant’s cooling system does to the ocean. The plant circulates 2 billion gallons of sea water each day, killing fish and crab larvae.

But commissioners questioned the fairness of conserving 9,000 acres. State law requires that any condition of approval have a direct connection to the project and be in proportion to its impacts.

PG&E said replacing the steam generators is merely a maintenance project causing no additional impact to the environment. The utility said conserving 1,200 acres was a gesture of good will to the community.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 16, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121606.pdf?ref=smdp.com)