Mothers for Nuclear is a pro-nuclear energy organization founded in 2016 by Kristin Zaitz and Heather Hoff, whom were both, at one point, employees of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, the last nuclear power plant operating in the state of California. Following pressure in 2015 to have the plant closed by 2024, the organization was formed to protest its closure while promoting the use of nuclear energy as a source of fuel as a source of clean energy. In addition, the group has advocated in favor of solutions to “climate change, air pollution, and energy poverty.” ¹ As of August 2025, Diablo Canyon is still operational. ³

In May 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy published an article endorsing Mothers for Nuclear. ⁴

Background

Mothers for Nuclear was co-founded in 2016 by Kristin Zaitz and Heather Hoff, whom were, at the time, both employees of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, the last nuclear power plant operating in the state of California following the San Onofre nuclear plant being shut down in 2012. ⁵ According to Mothers for Nuclear’s website, the Diablo Canyon opening was opposed by then-California Governor Jerry Brown (D) ⁶ and later attracted a protest which resulted in 2,000 arrests. ^{7 8}

In 2015, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), the company which owns Diablo Canyon Power Plant, applied to renew its operating license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its environmental permit from the California State Lands Commission to continue absorbing and expelling 2.5 billion gallons of seawater each day. At the time, the plant produced 8% of California’s electricity, and 25% of the state’s non-carbon-emitting energy. Then-Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) chaired the California commission and stated that the power plant likely wouldn’t survive past the mid-2020s. ^{9 6}

In 2016, Zeitz became connected to Environmental Progress, an organization then-run by journalist Michael Shellenberger, whom approved of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. At one of the organization’s events, Zeitz met up with Hoff, and the two began to coordinate with local businesses, unions, and non-profits to support the power plant. On Earth Day that year, they formed Mothers for Nuclear to continue advocating for saving the plant as well as promoting nuclear energy as a clean source of fuel. ^{9 7 8}

Later in 2016, PG&E announced that it would shut down the Diablo Canyon Power Plant due to a lack of “financial viability” as well as “community-choice aggregation” and a 2015 legislation which required the state to have half of its energy be produced through renewable sources. ^{5 9}

In 2018, the California legislature voted to begin shutting down Diablo Canyon Power Plant by 2024. ^{5 9} However, as of August 2025, Diablo Canyon is still operational. ¹⁰

Heather Hoff is the co-founder, Vice President, and CFO of Mothers for Nuclear. She previously worked as a reactor operator and procedure writer at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in San Luis Obispo, CA. ¹¹

1. All About Us.” Mothers for Nuclear, accessed November 3, 2025. https://www.mothersfornuclear.org/all-about-us
3. Robinson, Jennifer. “Diablo Canyon Enters Full Extended Operations.” PG&E, August 27, 2025. https://www.pge.com/en/newsroom/currents/future-of-energy/diablo-canyon-enters-full-extended-operations-.html

   As of 2025, the organization has international chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. ² “International Chapters.” Mothers for Nuclear, accessed November 3, 2025. https://www.mothersfornuclear.org/international-chapters?rq=chapters

4. Harman, Sarah. “Nuclear Energy: It’s Mother Approved.” Energy.gov. May 10, 2018. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nuclear-energy-its-mother-approved.
5. Nikolewski, Rob. “Nuclear power receives its death sentence in California: Regulators vote to shut down Diablo Canyon.” San Diego Union-Tribune. January 11, 2018. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/sd-fi-diablocanyon-shutdownvote-20180111-story.html.
6. Baker, David R. “Mothers for Nuclear: New group tries to keep Diablo Canyon open.” SF Gate. May 3, 2016. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Mothers-for-Nuclear-New-group-tries-to-keep-7390914.php.
7. “Atomic Adventure.” Mothers for Nuclear. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.mothersfornuclear.org/kristins-story.
8. “Naturally Nuclear.” Mothers for Nuclear. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.mothersfornuclear.org/heathers-story.
9. Tuhus-Dubrow. “The Activists Who Embrace Nuclear Energy.” The New Yorker. February 19, 2021. Accessed June 2, 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-activists-who-embrace-nuclear-power.
10. Robinson, Jennifer. “Diablo Canyon Enters Full Extended Operations.” PG&E, August 27, 2025. https://www.pge.com/en/newsroom/currents/future-of-energy/diablo-canyon-enters-full-extended-operations-.html

    Leadership

    Kristin Zaitz is the co-founder, President, and CEO of Mothers for Nuclear. She is also a civil engineer and project manager for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in San Luis Obispo, California. ² “Kristin’ Story.” Mothers for Nuclear, accessed November 3, 2025. https://www.mothersfornuclear.org/kristins-story

11. “Heather’s Story.” Mothers for Nuclear, accessed November 3, 2025. https://www.mothersfornuclear.org/heathers-story