Sep. 1--State energy officials would evaluate the future of nuclear power in California under a bill sent Thursday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill --introduced by Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo --requires that the state Energy Commission examine the costs incurred by state and local governments for the continued storage of highly radioactive waste at California' two nuclear power plants.

It also requires contingency planning for the loss of a large power plant --such as Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant --as a result of an earthquake.

The bill was one of a package of three energy bills authored by Blakeslee that await action by the governor. He has until Sept. 29 to enact or veto them.

Blakeslee said in a Thursday announcement that the new law would "ensure that communities like San Luis Obispo --which are most likely to be affected by seismic risk, nuclear waste and nuclear relicensing decisions --can be assured that the state has a plan to address these critical issues."

Numerous local governments and advocacy groups as well as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. supported the bill.

The state has not enacted legislation concerning nuclear power since its nuclear plants were constructed in the 1980s.

"This is a huge step to have the state acting on nuclear issues after a 20-year hiatus," said Rochelle Becker of the San Luis Obispo- based Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility.

The intent of the bill is to make sure the state has adequately planned in case an earthquake brings down a power plant that provides significant and continuous electrical power to California.

Earthquakes are a perennial concern at Diablo Canyon --which is near several faults --including one just offshore.

It also addresses the local costs of the federal government' continued delays in opening a national nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert.

Both Diablo Canyon and the San Onofre nuclear generating station in Southern California --the state' other nuclear power plant --are constructing above-ground storage facilities to take the overflow from their used fuel storage pools, which are nearing capacity.

Two other energy-related bills by Blakeslee were approved Thursday by the Legislature.

One bill allows utilities to apply increased output of small hydroelectric power plants toward state requirements that power companies increase their renewable energy portfolios by 1 percent annually. Utilities estimate that the bill will increase electrical outputs by 5 to 10 percent per plant.

The other requires that state conservation agencies develop recommendations for speeding the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions by storing more of them underground --a process called carbon sequestration.

Reach David Sneed at

781-7930.