The recent letter, “Twenty more years of Diablo Canyon won’t ‘protect and enhance’ our coast” (July 17) is very misleading. It is based on misinterpretation of a statement of policy by the California State Water Resources Board.
The quote from the board refers to the potential effects of the process of once-through cooling as it is employed globally, not just what is happening at Diablo Canyon. There, any potential environmental disruption is confined to a relatively small and isolated cove that is physically incapable of accommodating even a tiny fraction of the millions of fish, larvae, eggs, seals, sea lions, turtles, and other creatures referenced in the quote.
Then you need to consider the source: a state board comprised of political appointees who, in general, would be unable to find their own rear ends with both hands and a flashlight. Their sole purpose is to echo the policies of the prevailing political party which, despite repeated promises to cease, is still accepting substantial contributions from fossil-fuel interests who would very much like to see Diablo Canyon Power Plant closed down so they can make a buck pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which will eventually cause the entire ocean to warm up resulting in the demise of gazillions of fish, larvae, eggs, seals, sea lions, surfers, turtles, and other sea creatures.
Furthermore, the California Energy Commissions now recognizes Diablo Canyon production as a critical element in Californias’s clean energy policy. Last year, Diablo Canyon, along with large hydroelectric and renewables, contributed to 60 percent of California’s in-state power generation, which is pretty darn good. So, let’s keep it that way and keep Diablo Canyon open and continue to reap billions of dollars in economic benefits to our community.
Mark Henry
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in 55 Fiction 2025.
Diablo Canyon is a welfare program for union members and insiders. Get rid of it. NO NUKES.
Those darn skilled tradesmen making a decent living. How dare they!