Diablo Canyon needs to spend up to $12B to stay open

[FBaggins]

8. Wrong

Those are far from the only options. Even the article laid that out pretty clearly... but there are loads of other options. Not the least of which is convince the powers that be that a few fish eggs are no larger a deal than a few birds killed on power lines. Lamentable, but not something you sacrifice billions of dollars to avoid.

You haven't presented anything but an anti-nuke campaigner's claim that the other options would involve reducing power. What reason would anyone else have for believing her? Whether it's seismic studies or fish eggs, her answer is always that the plant should not receive an extension. That's the reason she pushed to get on the comittee in the first place. Southern California Edison also has a committee member. Should we take his statements as a final word as well?

The policy specifically allows for "alternative requirements". The examples outlined in the article (somewhat like carbon offsets in design) are specifically included as examples of those "alternative requirements"

Vermont Yankee doesn't apply.

Not directly... but the driving force behind this is merely a state water board's policy intended to enact a federal law. They could receive federal clarification (from a court or directive)... or even a change to that act. Vermont Yankee's case (which, it's worth pointing out, you were entirely wrong about) may not be directly on point, but there is no precedent for applying the CWA to existing power facilities (the policy admits that they're flying blind there) - they may not have any authority to enforce the requirements.

In short... PamW is (as usual) far closer to correct than your fantasy that the only options are to spend billions of dollars, cut power, or shut down.