World's Largest Lithium Ion Plant Catches Fire in California
Noor Al-Sibai
Sat, January 18, 2025
Scorched Ion
Hundreds of miles north of a scorched Los Angeles, a massive lithium-ion battery facility has caught fire — and it wasn't the first time the plant has had issues.
As Monterey's KSBW reports, the Moss Landing plant — which is owned by a Texas company called Vistra Energy and billed as the largest lithium-ion storage facility in the world — caught fire earlier in the week, leading to both the plant itself and the surrounding area being evacuated.
Lithium-ion battery fires are, as anyone who lives in an e-bike-riddled city knows by now, notoriously difficult to put out. The dense energy storage units, which power everything from cell phones to electric vehicles, can go up in flames in a phenomenon known as "thermal runaway," which is a chain reaction in which one battery cell overheating can trigger others near it to do the same. As such, the fires essentially re-ignite themselves, and firefighters have learned to let these fires partially die down on their own rather than using copious amounts of water that often won't put a dent in these blazes.
Because of the outrageous amount of water it would have taken to douse the blaze at Moss Landing, firefighters initially stood down from the inferno, which died down before reigniting in the aftermath of the first blaze — an epic local disaster, and the latest sign that the transition to green energy isn't always free of grave industrial catastrophes.
Where There's Smoke
Vistra told KSBW that the cause of the fire is not yet known, and won't be until it can conduct an investigation post-blaze. As the local broadcaster noted in subsequent reporting, however, the plant has been plagued by malfunctions for years.
Just a year after it opened in 2020, local firefighters were called to the plant after a battery overheating incident caused the facility to fill up with smoke. Ultimately, Vistra announced in January 2022 that an issue with its liquid cooling hoses led to some smoke inside the facility. Less than a month after that investigation was completed, another meltdown at Moss Landing led to firefighters being again called out to the plant, KSBW reports.
While the plant has been able to come back online relatively shortly after those incidents, it's unlikely Vistra will be back in business anytime soon given that roughly 75 percent of the facility has been burned.
Described by local officials as both a "worst-case scenario" and a "wake-up call," there have thankfully been no injuries or deaths attributed to the Moss Landing plant fire — but long-term damage from the toxic fumes emitted by the flames could be waiting for locals down the line.
Moss Landing battery fire sparks calls to improve safety, ‘accountability’ for industry
Brian Martucci
In July, ACP released a model ordinance framework for states and municipalities to develop regulations for energy storage system safety, permitting, siting, environmental compliance and decommissioning. The framework draws on the NFPA 855 fire safety standard and the UL 9540 and 9540A standards, which deal specifically with energy storage system safety.
Legislation signed in October 2023 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, required battery energy storage facilities in the state to develop “an emergency response and emergency action plan” in coordination with local authorities. Assemblymember Addis co-authored the bill.
Tom Stepien, CEO of South 8 Technologies, said the energy storage industry “should also take a closer look at the fundamental building blocks of lithium-ion batteries and understand how we can make the cells themselves safer.”
Stepien’s company makes a proprietary gaseous electrolyte that “enables [lithium-ion] battery operation in extreme climates with reduced fire risk” compared with liquid electrolyte. The gas escapes compromised cells in seconds, reducing burn time and the corresponding risk of an adjacent cell igniting, he said.
The battery array that burned was commissioned in 2020, making it one of the oldest utility-scale battery installations of its size in California. Its vintage suggests it may not have been built to the strict fire safety standards supported by ACP, said Dustin Mulvaney, an environmental studies professor at nearby San Jose State University who studies energy storage systems. Mulvaney added that he did not have direct knowledge of the Moss Landing facility’s design or safety features.
“I would go and inspect any energy storage system that looks like this one,” Mulvaney said. “We should have a thorough inspection regime.”
Despite local officials’ alarm at the Moss Landing fire, Mulvaney said the incident is unlikely to set back the energy storage industry in California, noting a state-led siting option that limits local governments’ power to block new projects that incorporate community benefits agreements. Moving forward, energy storage developers may face stronger pressure from the insurance industry to follow strict fire safety standards, which could prove beneficial for the industry’s safety record and reputation in the long run, he said.
“If the industry figures it out, this could be the biggest battery fire that ever happens,” Mulvaney said.
Editor’s note: This story has been clarified to add Vista's characterization of the four incidents Supervisor Church mentioned as occuring at Moss Landing and the adjacent Pacific Gas & Electric battery energy storage facility.
Vistra's 1.2 GWh Moss Landing storage facility remains offline after overheating incident
CA lawmaker calls for end to Morro Bay battery project after Moss Landing fire
Stephanie Zappelli
Tue, January 21, 2025
Vistra’s Moss Landing battery storage facility caught fire on Jan. 16, 2025, prompting the evacuation of about 1,200 people.
The Moss Landing battery plant fire has sparked concerns that Morro Bay isn’t the right place for a similar facility.
On Monday, one California State Assembly member echoed the calls of those constituents — and urged Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp. to abandon its already controversial Morro Bay project.
Vistra’s 750-megawatt battery energy storage facility at Moss Landing caught fire on Thursday afternoon, prompting a partial closure of Highway 1 and the evacuation of about 1,200 residents due to air quality concerns from the column of smoke the fire generated.
No one was injured in the blaze, and the evacuation order was lifted over the weekend. Caltrans has since reopened Highway 1.
Vistra planned to build a 600-megawatt battery energy storage facility at the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property — but Assemblymember Dawn Addis called for an end to the project after the Moss Landing fire.
“We can never have a disaster like this again,” she said in a statement Monday.
Her district stretches from Santa Cruz County to SLO County and includes both Moss Landing and Morro Bay.
Fire erupts at Vistra’s Moss Landing battery plant. What does it mean for Morro Bay project?
Should a battery plant be built in Morro Bay?
Vistra originally applied to the city of Morro Bay in 2021 to build a battery plant on the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property.
Then in October, Vistra withdrew its application from the city, and the company announced plans to seek approval through the California Energy Commission instead.
The California Energy Commission and Coastal Commission can bypass local zoning rules to approve large renewable energy projects like Vistra’s proposed battery plant through an opt-in certification program created by Assembly Bill 205.
On Friday, Vistra told The Tribune it paused its development application for the Morro Bay project.
“Our immediate focus is working with the first responders and leaders of Moss Landing and Monterey County to provide essential information to the community,” Vistra spokesperson Meranda Cohn said in an emailed statement. “Our company’s top priority is safety. A comprehensive investigation of this incident will be conducted following this event, which will inform our current and future energy storage operations.”
Vistra’s Morro Bay project was not listed as an applicant on the opt-in certification program’s website as of Tuesday.
Addis urged Vistra to abandon the Morro Bay project altogether.
“While we urgently need climate solutions, they must be safe for our communities and environment,” she said. “For the past four days, my full attention has been on the battery energy storage system fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County. We can never have a disaster like this again. We all deserve solutions that prioritize safety and sustainability.”
State Senator John Laird declined to comment on the battery plant proposed for Morro Bay, but he called for Vistra to improve its emergency response planning.
Laird represents the entirety of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, as well as part of San Luis Obispo County.
Laird authored Senate Bill 38, which requires battery energy storage facilities to develop an emergency response and action plan in coordination with local agencies, then submit it to the relevant city or county.
Vistra submitted the Moss Landing emergency plan to Monterey County four months before the law went into effect, Laird said.
“There are questions as to whether the report covered plans for an incident of this magnitude,” Laird said in a Tuesday statement. “It is imperative to determine whether the specific plan that was submitted by Vistra to local authorities was implemented effectively during this incident, and since it was filed prior to the law going into effect — if the report was consistent with the new law.”
Meanwhile, PG&E had not submitted an emergency safety plan for its battery facility also located at Moss Landing, Laird said.
Laird called for the state Legislature to consider setting deadlines for companies to submit the emergency plan.
He also urged Vistra to present its Senate Bill 38 safety plan to the public; complete air, soil, water and particulate matter tests at Moss Landing; and work with Monterey’s North County Fire Protection District to prepare for potential future incidents.
“The impacts of this fire have been profound — from the financial hardships faced by small businesses affected by the highway closure to the stress and disruption caused from evacuation,” he said. “These challenges underscore the importance of not only addressing the immediate aftermath but implementing long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Morro Bay city staff will present an update on the Moss Landing fire at the next City Council meeting on Jan. 28.
The council will also consider an urgency ordinance that would pause the city’s ability to process new battery plant development permits for up to two years. This wouldn’t prevent the California Coastal Commission and Energy Commission from approving the project.
One injured in possible lithium ion battery fire at Old Town apartment complex
Danielle Dawson
Mon, January 20, 2025
One injured in possible lithium ion battery fire at Old Town apartment complex
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A lithium ion battery sparked a fire at an Old Town apartment complex early Monday morning, injuring one person.
The incident was reported around 4 a.m. in the 2200 block of Moore Street. According to San Diego Fire-Rescue, fire crews and a HAZMAT team responded in minutes, quickly knocking down the flames and containing the fire to the unit where it originated.
One person inside the unit was injured in the fire and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their current condition is unknown.
As crews responded to the fire, residents who live in the complex were temporarily evacuated.
“It wasn’t a big fire, but it’s big enough for the fire department to get out,” Martin Theroux, the property manager for the complex, told FOX 5/KUSI.
All have returned to their homes aside from the three adults who lived in the impacted unit. The three residents have been displaced and are being aided by Red Cross.
An investigation into the incident is still underway, but San Diego Fire-Rescue crews said it was believed to have been caused by a lithium ion battery housed in the residence.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Noor Al-Sibai
Sat, January 18, 2025
Scorched Ion
Hundreds of miles north of a scorched Los Angeles, a massive lithium-ion battery facility has caught fire — and it wasn't the first time the plant has had issues.
As Monterey's KSBW reports, the Moss Landing plant — which is owned by a Texas company called Vistra Energy and billed as the largest lithium-ion storage facility in the world — caught fire earlier in the week, leading to both the plant itself and the surrounding area being evacuated.
Lithium-ion battery fires are, as anyone who lives in an e-bike-riddled city knows by now, notoriously difficult to put out. The dense energy storage units, which power everything from cell phones to electric vehicles, can go up in flames in a phenomenon known as "thermal runaway," which is a chain reaction in which one battery cell overheating can trigger others near it to do the same. As such, the fires essentially re-ignite themselves, and firefighters have learned to let these fires partially die down on their own rather than using copious amounts of water that often won't put a dent in these blazes.
Because of the outrageous amount of water it would have taken to douse the blaze at Moss Landing, firefighters initially stood down from the inferno, which died down before reigniting in the aftermath of the first blaze — an epic local disaster, and the latest sign that the transition to green energy isn't always free of grave industrial catastrophes.
Where There's Smoke
Vistra told KSBW that the cause of the fire is not yet known, and won't be until it can conduct an investigation post-blaze. As the local broadcaster noted in subsequent reporting, however, the plant has been plagued by malfunctions for years.
Just a year after it opened in 2020, local firefighters were called to the plant after a battery overheating incident caused the facility to fill up with smoke. Ultimately, Vistra announced in January 2022 that an issue with its liquid cooling hoses led to some smoke inside the facility. Less than a month after that investigation was completed, another meltdown at Moss Landing led to firefighters being again called out to the plant, KSBW reports.
While the plant has been able to come back online relatively shortly after those incidents, it's unlikely Vistra will be back in business anytime soon given that roughly 75 percent of the facility has been burned.
Described by local officials as both a "worst-case scenario" and a "wake-up call," there have thankfully been no injuries or deaths attributed to the Moss Landing plant fire — but long-term damage from the toxic fumes emitted by the flames could be waiting for locals down the line.
Moss Landing battery fire sparks calls to improve safety, ‘accountability’ for industry
Brian Martucci
UTILITY DIVE
Tue, January 21, 2025
Utility Dive, an Industry Dive publication
Dive Brief:
The dramatic fire that destroyed most of a 300-MW array at Vistra Energy’s 750-MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility late last week drew intense concern from local elected officials and may foretell closer scrutiny of utility-scale lithium-ion battery installations in California and nationwide.
Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the incident a “worst-case scenario,” comparing it to the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979, while California Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D, called for “transparency and accountability” and said she was “exploring all options for preventing future battery energy storage fires from ever occurring again on the Central Coast.”
A spokesperson for the American Clean Power Association, a trade group that advocates for the energy storage industry, pushed back on comparisons to the Three Mile Island incident — cleanup of which took 12 years and cost $973 million — and said operational U.S. energy storage facilities had seen only 20 fire-related incidents in the past 10 years, despite energy storage deployment growing by more than 25,000% since 2018.
Tue, January 21, 2025
Utility Dive, an Industry Dive publication
Dive Brief:
The dramatic fire that destroyed most of a 300-MW array at Vistra Energy’s 750-MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility late last week drew intense concern from local elected officials and may foretell closer scrutiny of utility-scale lithium-ion battery installations in California and nationwide.
Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the incident a “worst-case scenario,” comparing it to the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979, while California Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D, called for “transparency and accountability” and said she was “exploring all options for preventing future battery energy storage fires from ever occurring again on the Central Coast.”
A spokesperson for the American Clean Power Association, a trade group that advocates for the energy storage industry, pushed back on comparisons to the Three Mile Island incident — cleanup of which took 12 years and cost $973 million — and said operational U.S. energy storage facilities had seen only 20 fire-related incidents in the past 10 years, despite energy storage deployment growing by more than 25,000% since 2018.
Dive Insight:
Fire broke out at Moss Landing around 3 p.m. local time Thursday and burned out of control through the night, with local newscasts showing flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air.
Officials closed nearby Highway 1, a major thoroughfare between Santa Cruz and the San Francisco Bay Area, and ordered about 1,200 residents to evacuate. The evacuation orders were lifted Friday evening as air quality monitors showed “no threat to human health,” officials said. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Though investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, North County Fire Protection District Chief Joel Mendoza said Friday that a fire suppression system housed within one of the facility’s battery racks had failed, allowing the fire to spread. A Vistra spokesperson told CBS News that “an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.”
Church said in a Friday news conference that this was the fourth fire since 2020 on the property that houses Moss Landing and an adjacent 182.5-MW battery energy storage facility owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. But the latest incident “does look and feel very different,” Addis added. Vistra, however, contends that two of the incidents were “overheating” and not fires.
The 300-MW battery array that burned is part of the 750-MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, which occupies a decommissioned gas-fired power plant dating back to the 1950s. The retrofitted installation is among the less than 1% of U.S. energy storage facilities housing batteries indoors, American Clean Power Association spokesperson Phil Sgro said.
“Safety is the first and foremost priority of the industry and, after the incident is resolved and there is a thorough investigation, [it] will ensure the lessons learned are applied to prevent future incidents and inform safety standards and best practices,” Sgro said.
Fire broke out at Moss Landing around 3 p.m. local time Thursday and burned out of control through the night, with local newscasts showing flames shooting hundreds of feet into the air.
Officials closed nearby Highway 1, a major thoroughfare between Santa Cruz and the San Francisco Bay Area, and ordered about 1,200 residents to evacuate. The evacuation orders were lifted Friday evening as air quality monitors showed “no threat to human health,” officials said. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Though investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, North County Fire Protection District Chief Joel Mendoza said Friday that a fire suppression system housed within one of the facility’s battery racks had failed, allowing the fire to spread. A Vistra spokesperson told CBS News that “an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.”
Church said in a Friday news conference that this was the fourth fire since 2020 on the property that houses Moss Landing and an adjacent 182.5-MW battery energy storage facility owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. But the latest incident “does look and feel very different,” Addis added. Vistra, however, contends that two of the incidents were “overheating” and not fires.
The 300-MW battery array that burned is part of the 750-MW Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, which occupies a decommissioned gas-fired power plant dating back to the 1950s. The retrofitted installation is among the less than 1% of U.S. energy storage facilities housing batteries indoors, American Clean Power Association spokesperson Phil Sgro said.
“Safety is the first and foremost priority of the industry and, after the incident is resolved and there is a thorough investigation, [it] will ensure the lessons learned are applied to prevent future incidents and inform safety standards and best practices,” Sgro said.
In July, ACP released a model ordinance framework for states and municipalities to develop regulations for energy storage system safety, permitting, siting, environmental compliance and decommissioning. The framework draws on the NFPA 855 fire safety standard and the UL 9540 and 9540A standards, which deal specifically with energy storage system safety.
Legislation signed in October 2023 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, required battery energy storage facilities in the state to develop “an emergency response and emergency action plan” in coordination with local authorities. Assemblymember Addis co-authored the bill.
Tom Stepien, CEO of South 8 Technologies, said the energy storage industry “should also take a closer look at the fundamental building blocks of lithium-ion batteries and understand how we can make the cells themselves safer.”
Stepien’s company makes a proprietary gaseous electrolyte that “enables [lithium-ion] battery operation in extreme climates with reduced fire risk” compared with liquid electrolyte. The gas escapes compromised cells in seconds, reducing burn time and the corresponding risk of an adjacent cell igniting, he said.
The battery array that burned was commissioned in 2020, making it one of the oldest utility-scale battery installations of its size in California. Its vintage suggests it may not have been built to the strict fire safety standards supported by ACP, said Dustin Mulvaney, an environmental studies professor at nearby San Jose State University who studies energy storage systems. Mulvaney added that he did not have direct knowledge of the Moss Landing facility’s design or safety features.
“I would go and inspect any energy storage system that looks like this one,” Mulvaney said. “We should have a thorough inspection regime.”
Despite local officials’ alarm at the Moss Landing fire, Mulvaney said the incident is unlikely to set back the energy storage industry in California, noting a state-led siting option that limits local governments’ power to block new projects that incorporate community benefits agreements. Moving forward, energy storage developers may face stronger pressure from the insurance industry to follow strict fire safety standards, which could prove beneficial for the industry’s safety record and reputation in the long run, he said.
“If the industry figures it out, this could be the biggest battery fire that ever happens,” Mulvaney said.
Editor’s note: This story has been clarified to add Vista's characterization of the four incidents Supervisor Church mentioned as occuring at Moss Landing and the adjacent Pacific Gas & Electric battery energy storage facility.
Vistra's 1.2 GWh Moss Landing storage facility remains offline after overheating incident
CA lawmaker calls for end to Morro Bay battery project after Moss Landing fire
Stephanie Zappelli
Tue, January 21, 2025
Vistra’s Moss Landing battery storage facility caught fire on Jan. 16, 2025, prompting the evacuation of about 1,200 people.
The Moss Landing battery plant fire has sparked concerns that Morro Bay isn’t the right place for a similar facility.
On Monday, one California State Assembly member echoed the calls of those constituents — and urged Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp. to abandon its already controversial Morro Bay project.
Vistra’s 750-megawatt battery energy storage facility at Moss Landing caught fire on Thursday afternoon, prompting a partial closure of Highway 1 and the evacuation of about 1,200 residents due to air quality concerns from the column of smoke the fire generated.
No one was injured in the blaze, and the evacuation order was lifted over the weekend. Caltrans has since reopened Highway 1.
Vistra planned to build a 600-megawatt battery energy storage facility at the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property — but Assemblymember Dawn Addis called for an end to the project after the Moss Landing fire.
“We can never have a disaster like this again,” she said in a statement Monday.
Her district stretches from Santa Cruz County to SLO County and includes both Moss Landing and Morro Bay.
Fire erupts at Vistra’s Moss Landing battery plant. What does it mean for Morro Bay project?
Should a battery plant be built in Morro Bay?
Vistra originally applied to the city of Morro Bay in 2021 to build a battery plant on the retired Morro Bay Power Plant property.
Then in October, Vistra withdrew its application from the city, and the company announced plans to seek approval through the California Energy Commission instead.
The California Energy Commission and Coastal Commission can bypass local zoning rules to approve large renewable energy projects like Vistra’s proposed battery plant through an opt-in certification program created by Assembly Bill 205.
On Friday, Vistra told The Tribune it paused its development application for the Morro Bay project.
“Our immediate focus is working with the first responders and leaders of Moss Landing and Monterey County to provide essential information to the community,” Vistra spokesperson Meranda Cohn said in an emailed statement. “Our company’s top priority is safety. A comprehensive investigation of this incident will be conducted following this event, which will inform our current and future energy storage operations.”
Vistra’s Morro Bay project was not listed as an applicant on the opt-in certification program’s website as of Tuesday.
Addis urged Vistra to abandon the Morro Bay project altogether.
“While we urgently need climate solutions, they must be safe for our communities and environment,” she said. “For the past four days, my full attention has been on the battery energy storage system fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County. We can never have a disaster like this again. We all deserve solutions that prioritize safety and sustainability.”
State Senator John Laird declined to comment on the battery plant proposed for Morro Bay, but he called for Vistra to improve its emergency response planning.
Laird represents the entirety of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, as well as part of San Luis Obispo County.
Laird authored Senate Bill 38, which requires battery energy storage facilities to develop an emergency response and action plan in coordination with local agencies, then submit it to the relevant city or county.
Vistra submitted the Moss Landing emergency plan to Monterey County four months before the law went into effect, Laird said.
“There are questions as to whether the report covered plans for an incident of this magnitude,” Laird said in a Tuesday statement. “It is imperative to determine whether the specific plan that was submitted by Vistra to local authorities was implemented effectively during this incident, and since it was filed prior to the law going into effect — if the report was consistent with the new law.”
Meanwhile, PG&E had not submitted an emergency safety plan for its battery facility also located at Moss Landing, Laird said.
Laird called for the state Legislature to consider setting deadlines for companies to submit the emergency plan.
He also urged Vistra to present its Senate Bill 38 safety plan to the public; complete air, soil, water and particulate matter tests at Moss Landing; and work with Monterey’s North County Fire Protection District to prepare for potential future incidents.
“The impacts of this fire have been profound — from the financial hardships faced by small businesses affected by the highway closure to the stress and disruption caused from evacuation,” he said. “These challenges underscore the importance of not only addressing the immediate aftermath but implementing long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Morro Bay city staff will present an update on the Moss Landing fire at the next City Council meeting on Jan. 28.
The council will also consider an urgency ordinance that would pause the city’s ability to process new battery plant development permits for up to two years. This wouldn’t prevent the California Coastal Commission and Energy Commission from approving the project.
One injured in possible lithium ion battery fire at Old Town apartment complex
Danielle Dawson
Mon, January 20, 2025
One injured in possible lithium ion battery fire at Old Town apartment complex
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A lithium ion battery sparked a fire at an Old Town apartment complex early Monday morning, injuring one person.
The incident was reported around 4 a.m. in the 2200 block of Moore Street. According to San Diego Fire-Rescue, fire crews and a HAZMAT team responded in minutes, quickly knocking down the flames and containing the fire to the unit where it originated.
One person inside the unit was injured in the fire and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their current condition is unknown.
As crews responded to the fire, residents who live in the complex were temporarily evacuated.
“It wasn’t a big fire, but it’s big enough for the fire department to get out,” Martin Theroux, the property manager for the complex, told FOX 5/KUSI.
All have returned to their homes aside from the three adults who lived in the impacted unit. The three residents have been displaced and are being aided by Red Cross.
An investigation into the incident is still underway, but San Diego Fire-Rescue crews said it was believed to have been caused by a lithium ion battery housed in the residence.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment