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Editor’s Note: This is one in a Reality Check series of stories examining candidate positions on key issues ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
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ISSUE | Extending Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant’s license to operate:
The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant generates about 9% of the state’s electricity, and without the governor’s approval, it could close in 2030.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued PG&E an operating license for the plant that expires in 2044 for Unit 1 and 2045 for Unit 2, but the state has only approved operation of the plant’s twin reactors through 2029 and 2030.
The Legislature still needs to pass a law to extend operations beyond 2030 in order for PG&E to use the entirety of its new license. Then, the governor would need to sign it into law.
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton agreed that the plant should stay open, but they take a slightly different approach.
Democrat Xavier Becerra: Supports extending power plant’s permission to operate
At a gubernatorial debate in May, Becerra said the state should extend the plant’s operating life past 2030, but with a caveat.
“Safety first,” he said.
Meanwhile, he proposed a program that would reduce utility bills for eligible Californians.
The program, called Power Hour, would allow a household to run appliances for free during a two-hour window in the middle of each day.
Program eligibility would be based on household income according to CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) and FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance) program income guidelines, his website said.
“As an example, a family of four earning less than $82,500 a year would qualify for the program,” his website said.
The program is designed to support the state’s electricity grid, too, as it would spread electricity demand throughout the day, he said.
“That reduces strain on the grid during its most vulnerable hours, which lowers the risk of the brownouts and blackouts Californians have experienced during past periods of peak demand,” the website said.
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Republican Steve Hilton: Supports extending power plant’s permission to operate
At the debate, Hilton agreed with Becerra that the power plant should operate past 2030.
However, Hilton said the state should also support the construction of new nuclear power plants — an endeavor that is currently outlawed in California.
In 1976, a California law placed a moratorium on until the federal government devised a solution for the disposal of radioactive waste.
The state Legislature would need to pass a new law to override the old one to support the development of new nuclear energy sources.
Like Becerra, Hilton also pledged to lower utility bills — but in a different way.
First, Hilton said he plans to break up PG&E’s monopoly on providing electricity to the state while supporting the development of locally owned utilities.
“Communities should have more freedom to generate and manage their own power rather than being locked into a single monopoly provider,” his website said.
Meanwhile, Hilton aims to repeal climate mandates — because they increase energy costs that are passed on to ratepayers, he said.
“The Democrat approach assumes that forcing specific technologies and restricting reliable, affordable natural gas for electricity generation will somehow produce cheaper, cleaner, more reliable power over time,” his website said. “It has not. Instead, Californians are told to accept higher bills now in exchange for promised benefits that never seem to arrive.”
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters the week of Oct. 5, and the General Election will take place on Nov. 3.
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This story was originally published September 15, 2026 at 11:17 AM with the headline “Fact check: Where do CA governor candidates stand on Diablo Canyon, energy bills?.”
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