Del Mar has done it. So have Vista and Solana Beach, even Los Angeles. But one municipal powerhouse has been conspicuously absent in the debate about the future of the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant. That's the city of San Diego.
Del Mar, Solana Beach, Vista and Los Angeles have all called on federal regulators not to allow San Onofre to re-open without public hearings.
Los Angeles is pushing for evidentiary hearings, the kind you see in court cases for San Onofre majority owner Southern California Edison. The hope is to require Edison to prove that the nuclear plant is safe to re-open.
It was shut down nearly a year ago after a tube break inside its new steam generators caused a tiny radiation leak. Edison wants to re-open the plant and run it at reduced power under the theory that may allow it to avoid tube ruptures.
Several cities have debated the issue. San Diego has yet to enter the fray. Political Scientist Carl Luna expects that to happen soon.
"I would be surprised if in the new year, particularly with a Democratic majority on the council and a Democrat for mayor, you don't see a more aggressive stance on this issue," Luna said.
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner did not respond to requests for comment. San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria also did not grant an interview. His press person said Gloria has not gotten a request to docket the issue. It's the job of the council president to determine the council's weekly agenda.
