• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was set to host a public forum on May 3 to discuss the license renewal process for Diablo Canyon Power Plant, agreeing to an invitation from U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), according to a statement from the representative’s office. The commission planned to answer questions directly from Central Coast residents on the process and assessments that will certify the plant’s safety. “Discussions about the future of energy production on the Central Coast must include Central Coast communities—and I appreciate Chairman [Christopher] Hanson for heeding my request for the NRC to give our region’s residents a chance to ask questions and hear how our federal regulators will ensure the safety of Diablo Canyon remains the top priority in the next phase of its lifespan,” Carbajal said in the statement. Since the original proposed extension of Diablo Canyon’s lifespan last April, Carbajal has repeatedly stressed the importance of federal regulators, state agencies, and utility leaders engaging directly with Central Coast residents. He previously helped push for a public forum last August by the California Energy Commission, California Independent System Operator, and the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow for similar questions and public engagement.
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Patty Murray (D-Washington) reintroduced legislation to protect abortion providers from attempts to restrict their practice, according to an April 26 statement from Padilla’s office. The Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act would ensure that doctors can continue to safely provide legal abortion care and protect health care providers from being held liable for providing abortion services to patients from other states. “Abortion access is a fundamental right, and we must protect the courageous health care providers that are delivering this essential medical care to those who need it,” Padilla said in a statement. “As Republicans work relentlessly to pass cruel laws dismantling reproductive rights that put lives at risk, we must do everything in our power to protect people in states run by anti-abortion legislatures.” Specifically, the bill will protect providers in states where abortion is legal from being subject to laws that try to prevent them from providing services to patients from other states; prohibit federal funds from being used to pursue legal cases against individuals who access legal reproductive health care services in states where abortion is legal; create a new grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services to support reproductive health care providers in obtaining physical, cyber, or data privacy security upgrades necessary to protect their patients; and protect providers from being denied professional liability insurance solely because of legal health services offered to patients.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced funding for the next round of the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program, which fights climate change by providing grants to projects that conserve agricultural lands and encourage sustainable development, according to an April 27 statement from Newsom’s office. Since the first round of awards in 2015, SALC has awarded $373 million to projects in 36 counties, permanently conserving more than 194,000 acres of agricultural land. “California is enlisting our working lands to fight climate change, support local economies, and combat urban sprawl,” Newsom said in a statement. “Across the state, we’ve conserved thousands of acres of agricultural land under this program, and will continue to support a wide range of innovative projects to reduce emissions and protect our communities.” The SALC program prioritizes funding for projects that benefit California Native American tribes, beginning farmers and ranchers, farmers and ranchers who are U.S. military veterans, and farmers who live in disadvantaged or low-income communities.
This article appears in May 4-14, 2023.