Over a year has passed since a devastating fire erupted at one of the globe’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities located in Monterey County. The incident released hazardous gases into the atmosphere and left a trail of destruction that remains unresolved.
The site, owned by Vistra Corp, a Texas-based company, may not be fully cleared for several more months, or possibly even a year, according to Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church.
Efforts to clean up the area have been hampered by the inherent dangers involved in handling thousands of batteries that need to be removed without sparking another fire. “Of course, quicker would be better, but safety has to be first,” Church emphasized.
The blaze in Moss Landing has fueled opposition towards battery projects in California, where state officials are aiming for a 100% clean energy goal by 2045.
A safe energy transition
Battery energy storage systems are designed to store surplus energy, such as from solar panels, for later use during peak demand periods. California has substantially invested in this technology, experiencing a 3,000% increase in capacity from 500 megawatts in 2020 to over 15,700 megawatts in 2025.
This month, a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks to ensure the safe continuation of this transition. The Better Energy Storage and Safety Act proposes an annual allocation of $30 million over the next five years for research and stress testing of these systems.
Authored by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, who represents the Central Coast district including Moss Landing, and co-led by Rep. Pat Harrigan from North Carolina, Panetta noted the importance of safety in the inevitable shift towards renewables, stating, “you have to accept the reality of renewables … That’s why we want to ensure that it’s as safe as possible.”
A fast energy transition
The Moss Landing fire has become a focal point in discussions about California’s fast-paced energy transition. Church advocates for increased local oversight on the location of battery systems and emphasizes learning from the Moss Landing incident rather than dismissing it as “an inconvenient accident.”
With advances in technology, lithium-ion battery storage sites are generally safe, according to Shirley Meng, a molecular engineering professor at the University of Chicago. She noted that safety has significantly improved, with the failure rate being about 1 in 10 million for all types of lithium-ion batteries.
California is expediting the approval process for renewable energy projects through a fast-track permitting program which bypasses local government approvals, a move criticized by Church.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new state law prompted by the Moss Landing fire, mandating battery storage safety standards and coordination with local fire departments.
The cause of the Moss Landing fire is still under investigation
The fire burned for days, with firefighters opting not to use water due to the risk of hazardous chemical reactions associated with lithium-ion battery fires.
The fire originated in a former turbine building housing a 300-megawatt system comprising approximately 4,500 cabinets, each with 22 battery modules. According to Vistra Corp., about 54,450 of the 99,000 individual LG battery modules were consumed by the fire. As of May 8, over 31,000 battery modules had been safely removed and sent for recycling.
“We are now working to enable safe access to batteries in the damaged portion of the building,” confirmed Justin Daily, a spokesman for the company.
Original Story at www.latimes.com