Current Activities: We have begun to remove the final intact batteries from the damaged portion of Moss 300. The batteries will be placed into a saltwater bath to de-energize them, which may create the appearance of steam or smoke rising from the site.
All recovery operations are being conduction in close coordination with the U.S. EPA and the North County Fire Protection District, and the safety of workers and the surrounding community remains our number one priority.
Battery Removal: More than 39,000 intact battery modules have been removed, de-energized, and shipped to approved facilities.
Next Steps: Following the removal of all intact batteries from the damaged portion of Moss 300, work will turn to transporting damaged battery materials and debris offsite for disposal or recycling at U.S. EPA-approved facilities.
RECOVERY PROGRESS
Site Status
The natural gas plant is online and operating normally as recovery efforts progress.
INCIDENT OVERVIEW
On Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, a battery fire occurred at the 300MW battery energy storage facility (Moss 300) at Vistra’s Moss Landing site in Monterey County, California. Company personnel immediately responded, and the North County Fire Protection District was dispatched to the scene. The fire was contained to the Moss 300 building and did not spread to any of the other energy storage facilities or the natural gas plant located on site.
Multiple agencies and organizations have monitored local air, water, and soil. To date, no risks to public health have been observed.
Air quality monitoring and sampling during and after the incident found no hazardous air conditions or risks to public health. These findings have been confirmed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. More information on environmental testing is available here.
Approximately 1,200 nearby residents were evacuated for 24 hours as a precaution. To assist these residents, Vistra established a community assistance program to offset any evacuation expenses. Vistra also established a business claims program for businesses located in the evacuation zone or operating at or out of Moss Landing Harbor to file a claim for financial assistance.
INVESTIGATION PROGRESS
The cause of the January 16 battery fire remains unknown, and suggestions as to its cause or contributing factors are speculation. We are currently conducting a thorough, methodical investigation into the cause and have retained multiple outside experts who are assisting in this effort. The ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts will also advance the investigation, as we will gain additional access to damaged portions of the building.
Investigations like these take time, and we ask for your patience as our teams examine a myriad of data points to understand what happened. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to be transparent with local officials, regulatory agencies, and the public on the next steps for the Moss Landing battery facilities and the findings of our investigation.
Environmental Testing
Terraphase Engineering Inc. prepared a Characterization and Screening-Level Risk Evaluation Report to assess the potential human health and environmental impacts of the January 2025 fire at the ML300 building at the Moss Landing Power Plant.
A summary of all environmental analysis conducted thus far can be found here.