Diablo Canyon debate sidelines the question of renewables (East Bay Times guest commentary) - EastBayTimes.com

Californians need to look to the future -- not just to 2030 -- but to what we want our state's long-term energy mix to look like. Officials should prioritize growing renewables, and ultimately, extending Diablo Canyon's licenses would hinder this goal.

California is a leader in implementing strong environmental regulations and incorporating more renewable energy -- like wind and solar -- into our energy mix. This has allowed our state's air to become cleaner even as our economy has thrived. 

Now, we have the opportunity to expand our development and use of renewable energy even more -- affording us the opportunity to reach our goal of getting half of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030. 

However, there's one major obstacle in the way: the state's sole remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon. 

Constructed in the early 1970s, the plant currently provides more than 8 percent of California's electricity. The plant's licenses expire in 2024 and 2025, and while the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission will decide whether to extend the licenses another 20 years, Californians are already beginning to weigh in on both sides of the issue...

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