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KPBS Special Coverage: Trouble At San Onofre
Southern California Edison has announced it will retire the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which has been offline since a small radiation leak in January 2012 led to the discovery of excessive wear on hundreds of steam generator tubes that carry radioactive water.
Here's your manual to how it all began and the latest developments.
The Beginning
The 'Small Leak' That Started It All
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station takes its Unit 3 reactor offline after an equipment problem sent a small, non-hazardous amount of radioactive gas into an auxiliary building and possibly into the atmosphere, authorities said.
San Onofre's Problems Deepen
San Onofre operator, Southern California Edison says it found more tube wear in Unit 2, similar though less serious than in Unit 3. As the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the plant will not restart until the root cause is discovered, California’s energy agencies gear up efforts to get substitute power from decommissioned power plants.
Unanswered Questions
Attempts To Restart
Report Critical Of Restarting Steam Generators
A new report introduced to a U.S. Senate committee contends the steam generators at San Onofre are in much worse shape than publicly acknowledged, finding 400 times as many damaged steam generator tubes as in a typical nuclear reactor with new steam generators.
NRC Responds To Problems At San Onofre
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected a petition from Friends of the Earth asking for a license amendment for San Onore before considering a plan to restart the troubled plant. The amendment would have required public hearings.
San Onofre's Future Still Hangs In The Balance
Almost one year since the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station was abruptly shut down due to a unexpected equipment problems, the discussion continues over Southern California Edison's proposal to partially restart the plant.
Permanently Offline
San Onofre To Be Permanently Closed
Southern California Edison announces it is retiring the remaining reactors at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Decommissioning the plant will take 40 years and cost 1,100 jobs.
Replacing San Onofre Power
Carlsbad Approves New "Peaker Plant" Deal
The Carlsbad City Council has signed off on an agreement for a new gas-powered “peaker” plant.
CPUC Approves Pio Pico Plant In Otay Mesa Despite Protest
State public utilities officials have unanimously approved a previously rejected natural gas power plant in Otay Mesa.
New Power Sources Planned To Replace San Onofre Nuclear Plant
California regulators Thursday approved a plan for two utilities to develop replacement power to help fill the void left by the closure of the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
Settlement Talks
San Onofre Settlement Talks To Focus On Covering Plant's Shutdown Costs
The talks could help resolve who pays for the shuttering of the San Onofre nuclear power plant.