San Luis Obispo County Seawater Desalination Plant

planned

San Luis Obispo County is studying the construction of a major seawater desalination plant along its 90-mile coastline to provide a drought-proof water supply for 16 partner water agencies. One leading option involves pairing or expanding the plant at or near Diablo Canyon, California’s last operating nuclear power station. The plant already operates a small on-site desalination facility producing up to 1.5 million gallons per day. The project aims to use nuclear reactors for steady 24/7 baseload power at low marginal cost, reducing costs and demand on the electrical grid. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved 20-year license renewals for Diablo Canyon’s two units, potentially extending operations to 2044 and 2045. The feasibility study is evaluating multiple sites, technologies, and energy sources, including pairing desalination with a planned Morro Bay offshore wind operation. Public hearings were held but no final decisions were made yet.