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Home My WebLink About2/3/2026 Item 5h, Abbott Aaryn Abbott < To:E-mail Council Website Cc:Assemblymember.Addis@assembly.ca.gov; senator.laird@senate.ca.gov; Dawn Ortiz- Legg Subject:Input Ahead of February 3 Discussion on Diablo Canyon and Unitary Tax Dear Mayor Stewart and Members of the City Council, I’m writing to respectfully share perspective in advance of your February 3 discussion regarding a City letter related to Diablo Canyon. I understand and respect the City’s longstanding practice of caution around advocating for specific projects. That said, I believe Diablo Canyon represents a unique case where regional economic stability, climate goals, and public education funding intersect so directly that neutrality on license duration may unintentionally work against the City’s long-term interests. I would offer five concise considerations for your deliberations: First, safety and oversight are well established. Diablo Canyon is licensed and continuously regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and has undergone decades of independent technical and seismic review. Within the energy industry, it is commonly viewed as a benchmark facility due to the depth of its regulatory scrutiny and operational standards. Second, Diablo Canyon directly supports climate objectives. It provides roughly 9–10% of California’s electricity as carbon-free, baseload power. As electrification accelerates and energy demand grows, nuclear power is increasingly recognized in mainstream energy and climate analyses as an important contributor to meeting emissions targets reliably and affordably— particularly where existing facilities already operate. Third, real-world timelines matter in the clean-energy transition. While the City has appropriately supported renewable and emerging clean-energy technologies, alternatives capable of replacing Diablo Canyon’s scale of reliable, carbon-free power will require many years, and in some cases decades, to permit and deploy. A long-term extension therefore aligns with the City’s clean-energy goals by providing dependable, carbon-free power while next-generation solutions continue to mature. Fourth, the City benefits economically, even if indirectly. Diablo Canyon remains one of the County’s largest sources of high-quality jobs and economic activity, supported by billions in power-generation and transmission infrastructure investment. These benefits extend meaningfully into the City’s workforce, business community, and broader regional economy. Fifth—and critically—unitary tax restoration and license duration are inseparable. 1 Restoring unitary tax revenue is most justifiable if the operating license is extended for a meaningful period. The San Luis Coastal Unified School District continues to face long-term fiscal challenges following the loss of this revenue. A five-year extension does not reasonably support restoration; a twenty-year extension does. Ultimately, the State Legislature will need a unified signal from the County and its cities to act. While Diablo Canyon’s direct fiscal impact is greater at the County level, it is clearly in the City’s broader economic and civic interest to stand with the County on this issue. My intent in sharing these thoughts is not to push the City beyond its principles, but to encourage recognition of this moment as one of regional leadership and pragmatic governance. Supporting a 20- year extension in conjunction with unitary tax restoration would align with the City’s climate objectives, economic interests, and responsibility to the broader community. Thank you for your consideration. I would be happy to discuss this further if helpful. Respectfully, Aaryn Abbott 2026 Board Chair, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce General Contractor & Real Estate Developer REACH Council Member CC: Senator John Laird; Assemblymember Dawn Addis; Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg AARYN ABBOTT | Vice President To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 1308 Monterey Street, #210. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.215.2872 MOBILE | 805.543.7277 MAIN OFFICE DRE Officer ID# 01878241 www.abbottreedinc.com 2