All four of California's commercial reactors are PWRs (pressurized light water reactors). Each of the four units went on line in the mid 1980's. No early site permits (ESPs) for California locations have been filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and no company has announced any intention to build a nuclear plant in the State.

Permanently Shutdown Commercial Reactors: The following California commercial nuclear plants are in various stages of decommissioning: GE VBWR (shut down on December 9, 1963), Humboldt Bay 3 (shut down on July 2, 1976), Rancho Seco (shut down on June 7, 1989), and the number 1 reactor at San Onofre (shut down on November 11, 1992).

Nuclear Research and Test Reactors Regulated by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in California: Operating--Aerotest is the licensee for TRIGA (industrial) reactor (power level 250 kilowatts) which was licensed on July 2, 1965, a nuclear test reactor (power level 100 kilowatts) was licensed by General Electric Company on October 31, 1957. The University of California (Davis) licensed a TRIGA reactor (power level 2,300 kilowatts) on August 13, 1998, and the University of California (Irvine) licensed a TRIGA Mark I reactor (power level 250 kilowatts on November 24, 1969. Decommissioning--General Atomics Mark F (1,500 kilowatts), shut down on September 7, 1974, General Atomics Mark I (250 kilowatts) shut down on December 17, 1996; General Electric Company GETR (tank) reactor (power level 50,000 kilowatts) shut down on June 26, 1985, and EVESR reactor (power level 17,000 kilowatts) licensed by General Electric Company was shut down on February 1, 1967.

Nuclear Power Generation in California, 1965 through 2005 Million Kilowatt Hours

Sources: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, Power Plant Report, and predecessor forms.

Nuclear Generation in California in 2005 was 36,155 billion kwh.

Electricity generation by nuclear power plants is available for each reactor and each State for the following years:

• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002

Contribution of Nuclear Power

In 2008, the State of California ranked 8th in nuclear capacity and 8th in nuclear generation. Monthly and cumulative nuclear generation and annual nuclear capacity for each State and each reactor is reported in a table elsewhere on this site.

In 2004, more than half of the electricity generated by California was supplied by power plants using natural gas.  Although fossil fuels yield airborne emissions, natural gas emits less than coal or petroleum. This is a major factor in keeping the State in the lower echelon of sulfur dioxide (41st) emissions among the 50 States plus the District of Columbia) and nitrogen oxides (31st). Natural gas is also lower in carbon dioxide emissions:  California ranks 14th in CO2 output among the States.

The relatively modest contribution that producing electricity makes to local air pollution is partly attributable to heavy reliance on out-of-State generators. According to EIA’s Electric Power Annual, 2004 annual sales of electricity were 252,764 million kilowatthours but State electricity generation was only 194,780 million kilowatthours, with the remainder coming from out of State.

In 2007, natural gas accounted for over half of the electricity generated by the State. The percentage of electricity generated by coal, gas, nuclear, and hydropower for each state with at least one commercial reactor is reported in the Electricity Market table.

California Nuclear Highlights

The Santa Susana Sodium Reactor Experimental now being decomissioned.

• On July 12, 1957, the Santa Susana Sodium Reactor Experimental (SRE) begins supplying electricity to the grid, months before the Nation's first commercial power plant goes on line (Shippingport). Built by Southern California and Atomics International, this SRE 'was considered as the country's first civilian nuclear plant according to the California Energy Commission. It was, however, permanently closed in February 1964.
• In 2001, California experiences an energy crisis, as rolling blackouts occur throughout the State, and the average price of electricity rises about 25 percent.
• In 2003, California's nuclear plants provide 35,593,789 megawatts of electricity, a record for that State.

License Renewal

Applications for license renewal must be submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). There are no license renewal applications pending for any of California's four commercial reactors. The earliest expiration date for any of the reactors is September 22, 2021 for the number one reactor at Diablo Canyon.

Air Quality in California

Total greenhouse emissions for the electric power industry of each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, are reported for the most current data year.

Of the 50 States plus the District of Columbia, the electric industry of the State of California ranked 14th highest in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2007. The State's electric industry ranked 39th highest in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and 14th highest in nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions.

California Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1989-2004 (CO2)*

*Carbon Dioxide

California Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1989-2004 (SO2)*

*Sulfur Dioxide

California Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1989-2004 (NOX)*

*Nitrogen Oxide

see also:
annual nuclear statistics back to 1953
projected electricity capacity to 2025
international electricity statistics

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