San Clemente Environmentalists Celebrate Closing of SONGS

Gary Headrick’s wife Laurie was coming home from her morning workout when the news of Southern California Edison shuttering the San Onofre nuclear power plant came across the news.

She quickly called Gary. As founders of San Clemente Green, they’ve long worked for this day, and it was finally here.

“We’re both in tears and laughter at the same time. It’s such a relief and such a joy,” Headrick said. “We’ve been hoping for the right decision …. We’re hoping for a sustainable future.”

Amidst the celebration is the nagging thought that now Edison will have to deal with all the spent fuel being stored at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Generating Station. Headrick said officials estimate that it will take five years to truck it away, and fear of the “big one” earthquake hovers.

Thoughts on how to advocate that issue, however, will  have to wait, however, Headrick said.

“Now it’s times to celebrate for public safety. That was always our dream and now it’s a reality.”