San Luis Obispo County’s July 30 event, Diablo Canyon 2045: Local and Statewide Implications, is being promoted as an informational session. But an informational session should present more than one side of an issue.
The announced speakers include an economist who previously supported extending Diablo Canyon’s operation and PG&E representatives discussing the plant’s safety, seismic monitoring, and operations. Missing are independent experts who question the economic case for keeping Diablo Canyon open through 2045, including analysts from the Environmental Working Group and The Utility Reform Network (TURN), whose research estimates extension costs could reach $20 billion to $45 billion. Also absent are independent voices on seismic risk, public health, radioactive waste, and environmental impacts.
Perhaps most surprising, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace—an organization that has monitored Diablo Canyon for more than 50 years through licensing proceedings, environmental reviews, and independent radiation monitoring—was not invited to participate.
The county has also announced a panel of representatives from education, business, labor, and other sectors but has not identified who they are. Taxpayers deserve to know who will be speaking before the event takes place.
No one is arguing against holding a public forum. We welcome it. But if the county truly wants to educate rather than persuade, it should broaden the panel to include qualified independent experts representing environmental, consumer, public health, seismic, and economic perspectives.
A public forum should inform—not advocate.
Molly Johnson
Templeton
This article appears in July 23-30, 2026.
I am curious about the claim that to be “fair” a group must present present speakers who oppose the group’s position at their meetings. Does this mean that Mothers For Peace and TURN will henceforth present pro-nuclear advocates at their rallies, and give them a chance to argue their case? While I am sure that they would be happy to allow them to appear to be tarred and feathered or otherwise be subjected to the kind attentions of outraged partisans, I sort of doubt that they would be permitted to state their case.
Considering this event is being sponsored by SLO County and is a “public event”, meaning that taxpayer dollars are being used, I would think all voices would be included. Mothers and TURN are not using taxpayer money for their events. Big difference.
The meeting was an “informational session”, not a discussion forum, nor an opportunity for public comments. There is no legal obligation on either Diablo Canyon, nor Mothers for Peace/TURN, to allow opponents to tell the audience why the presentation is an utter load of “stuff”. However, if you complain that one side doesn’t allow it, you should expect comments on your own willingness to do the same.