Growing up in California, I watched the state pride itself on environmental leadership. Yet it has also become notorious for energy decisions that have driven some of the highest electricity prices in the nation, along with ongoing grid reliability concerns. Now, the state may finally be course- correcting on at least one mistake it should never have made: abandoning nuclear energy. A bipartisan group of lawmakers—led by Democratic Assemblymembers Lisa Calderon, John Harabedian, and Alex Lee, along with Republican Senator Brian Jones—introduced legislation to exempt nuclear reactors approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission since 2005 from California’s decades-old moratorium on new nuclear builds. This exemption would include reactors using the AP1000 design, like those powering Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Georgia. This isn’t the first nuclear energy bill introduced in the California state legislature, but it is certainly unique. Historically, Republicans have led efforts to embrace advanced nuclear in the state. This time, however, lawmakers from both parties are leading the charge at a moment of rising electricity demand and ambitious environmental goals. California’s long-standing anti-nuclear sentiment makes this effort particularly striking. In 1976, three years before the Three Mile Island events, the state implemented a moratorium on new reactors, becoming the first in the nation to impose such restrictions. Most other states with similar restrictions did not follow until public concern surged after Three Mile Island. While those concerns were understandable, the ensuing collapse of the U.S. nuclear industry exaggerated the actual risks. The partial meltdown caused no deaths, injuries, or direct health effects, and no major environmental impacts were attributed to the incident. Despite nuclear energy being one of the safest and cleanest forms of energy available, California continued shutting down even its existing reactors, the most recent of which was the San Onofre plant in 2013. Unsurprisingly, emissions in the state increased following the closure of this emissions-free energy source. In the mid- to late-2010s, efforts to close Diablo Canyon seemed inevitable, but in 2022, California lawmakers directed the plant to remain open beyond its originally planned 2025 closure. It has since received extensions through 2030 after state officials recognized that both grid reliability and emissions goals could not be achieved without it. The shifting narrative around Diablo Canyon was welcome news for those of us who recognize the benefits of nuclear energy, but it wasn’t clear whether the state would go further than merely saving its last nuclear plant. The recent legislation represents a much larger step forward, signaling that nuclear isn’t just an energy source of the past, but one of the future. Exempting modern reactors, which incorporate advanced safety features, is both logical and necessary to meet emissions targets without compromising reliability or affordability. Related Articles Why college enrollment is one of the Inland Empire’s most important economic signals Mass incarceration won’t make California safer — but the next governor can Walter Block: On birthright citizenship, Trump is simply wrong David Hadley: Trump 2.0 one year in – successes amid the drama Excessive litigation is a hidden tax on California households Specifically, California is increasingly criticized for sky-high electricity prices. Some of this stems from circumstances beyond its control, like wildfires damaging infrastructure, but a portion is also linked to self-imposed policies such as net metering and renewable portfolio standards, which studies have associated with higher retail electricity rates in certain states. Coupled with ongoing grid reliability challenges, this context makes the state’s renewed openness to nuclear less surprising: when reliability falters and costs climb, clean firm power becomes hard to ignore. As someone born and raised in the Golden State, I’m encouraged by the changing tune around nuclear energy. Powering the fourth-largest economy in the world will require a more thoughtful and balanced approach than we have taken in the past—one that prioritizes reliability, affordability, and emissions reduction alike. Nuclear can help deliver all three. Sarah Rosa is the policy director at the American Conservation Coalition Action (ACC Action). A Silicon Valley native, she’s now based in Sacramento. ...read more read less