I’ve always cared about taking care of our planet. I grew up in the '80s with Save the Whales posters in my room and wearing Nature Conservancy T-shirts of rainforests. I wanted to do everything I could to help “Save the Earth.” As I gained independence, I continued to build my life around conservation and sustainability. When I was around others, I was often shocked at the lack of consideration for resources and our natural world. I was also frustrated that such little progress could be made just by one lifestyle.
When I first thought of working at Diablo Canyon, I was nervous. But in addition to my interest in nature, I have a strong curiosity and an appreciation for science. I decided to find out everything I could about nuclear power and either validate or disprove my fears.
It has been a long evolution — after five or six years, I knew enough to realize I was helping the world just by running the plant. The enormous amount of emissions-free electricity that’s generated is irreplaceable, and it's particularly valuable now that people are recognizing the severity of climate change. That was enough to satisfy me — until now, when, 13 years into my career, I learned of plans to shut down the plant early.