California Nuclear Plant to close permanently -Friday June 7,2013

 The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, a key source of power for Southern California Edison and a small provider to Riverside Public Utilities, will shut down permanently, Edison officials announced on Friday June 7,2013

California nuclear power plant will close permanently amid doubts it could operate safely, 18 months after a small radiation leak was discovered.

The nuclear plant, located in southern California, has produced no electricity since early 2012

The San Onofre plant near Los Angeles halted operations in January 2012 after radioactive water tubes were damaged.

San Onofre powered 1.4 million homes but regulators say they can supply sufficient electricity through the summer barring threats to other plants.

California US Senator Barbara Boxer applauded the decision to close the plant permanently, saying it had a defective design and posed a danger to the eight million people who live within 50 miles (80.5km).