lting steam is used to drive a steam turbine-generator.In a BWR, there is no need for a steam generator and a secondary circulating system, as the water in primary circulating system is allowed to boil before exiting the reactor and is then routed directly to a steam turbine-generator.There are only two nuclear power plants out of six that are still used in California. The first one is owned by PG&E named Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant near San Luis Obispo. The Plant has two units; the first unit is a 1,073-megawatt PWR, which began operation in May 1985. The second unit is 1,087-megawatt PWR, which began operation in March 1986. The second plant is owned by Southern California Edison Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric named San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Unit two of that station is a 1,070-megawatt PWR that began operation in August 1983, while unit three is a 1,080-megawatt PWR that began operation in April 1984.Below is a chart of nuclear power plants in California:Nuclear Power Plants in CaliforniaName of PlantCapacity (MW)In ServiceOwnerDiablo CanyonUnit 1Unit 21,0731,08719851986PG&EPG&ESan OnofreUnit 1Unit 2Unit 34361,0701,0801968 - 199219831984SCE/SDG&ESCE/SDG&ESCE/SDG&EHumboldt Bay Unit 3 *651963 - 1976PG&ERancho Seco9131975 - 1989SMUDVallecitos301957 - 1967PG&E/GE* Units 1 and 2 are natural gas-fired thermal power plants on the same site. There are many reasons and issues why we don’t have a lot of nuclear power plants in California here are a few:Nuclear plants may not be economically feasible in the United States. No American utility has proposed to construct a new nuclear power plant since the late 1970s. Need for a spent fuel disposal facility and a decommissioning plan Use of large amounts of water for cooling purposes (if wet cooling towers are used) Biological impacts on the ocean due to thermal discharge (if seawater cooling is used) Designing for seismic safety Public safety concerns Transportation issue...
