Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Diablo Canyon Power Plant is a nuclear facility on the California coast that operates two pressurized water reactors to supply electricity for roughly three million residents across the state. The site sits on a coastal property between rocky shorelines and uses seawater to cool its turbines, which eliminates the need for the cooling towers found at many other nuclear plants.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company started building the facility in the late 1960s, with the first reactor entering commercial operation in 1985 and the second in 1987. The start-up of both units was delayed by several years due to retrofits and reviews related to seismic safety and newly identified fault lines along the coast.
Local environmental groups and residents participated in numerous discussions regarding seismic safety and environmental impact throughout the facility's development and operation.
The facility is located in a remote coastal area with no public access since it is a working nuclear plant. Visitors can observe the outer surroundings and coastal landscape from nearby public viewpoints, but entry into the operational grounds is not permitted.
The plant is located near several geological fault lines, including the Hosgri Fault about two miles offshore. This location has led to ongoing research and reinforced safety measures that go beyond what most other plants require.
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