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Energy Storage Safety Update - 2/20/2025

To follow up on last week’s initial communication on Moss Landing, I would like to summarize what has transpired over the past week.

MEETING WITH GOVERNOR NEWSOM REPRESENTATIVE

Yesterday, we met with Grant Mack, Gov. Newsom’s Deputy Legislative Secretary, who emphasized the industry’s need to enhance public education on battery storage and safety in the wake of the Moss Landing incident. He also underscored the importance of increasing community involvement in the regulatory process in the aftermath of the event.
 
During the meeting, we highlighted the need for local jurisdictions to adopt more uniform standards for permitting requirements. We acknowledged that a bill mandating a single statewide process or requiring local jurisdictions to follow a model code would likely face significant challenges in the current legislative environment. We requested the Administration’s assistance in disseminating accurate information about energy storage safety and leveraging its influence to deter moratoriums and unreasonable permitting restrictions. Additionally, we described our discussions with GO-BIZ regarding updates to the storage permitting guidebook to include front-of-meter facilities as a means of promoting more standardized processes.
 
Finally, we shared a key takeaway from the Moss Landing incident: Air, water, and soil analyses conducted to date have found no environmental or public health concerns, despite it being the largest battery storage fire in U.S. history. Any future incidents, should they occur, would have significantly less impact, as less than one percent of Moss Landing’s energy storage capacity would be at risk due to the industry’s transition from building-based to containerized battery storage projects.

MONTEREY PRESS BRIEFING

At Monterey County’s standing Wednesday press briefing (live and archived events are accessible at this link) officials reported a flare-up at the Moss Landing site. Eric Sandusky (US EPA) noted that PM 2.5 readings remain normal. Airborne heavy metal sampling is ongoing, but since it requires laboratory analysis, no data is currently available. He explained that the US EPA is working with Vistra to begin delinking the batteries to reduce the rack-level voltage to mitigate the risk of additional flare-ups.
 
NEWS SUMMARY

Although the Moss Landing fire occurred on January 17, 2025, it continues to receive coverage in several media outlets across California. Coverage has primarily focused on the following topics:

  • The potential for similar incidents in other communities
  • The Monterey County Lawsuit
  • Letters to the editor regarding the incident

Recent News Articles:

 

Respectfully,

Scott Muritshaw, CESA Executive Director