Moss Landing Fire Highlights Critical Safety Concerns

Flames rising after a major fire erupted Thursday afternoon at the Moss Landing Power Plant, located about 77 miles south of San Francisco on Thursday.

On January 16, 2025, a significant fire broke out at the Moss Landing Power Plant in Monterey County, California. This facility, one of the world’s largest battery storage sites, houses thousands of lithium-ion batteries critical for California’s renewable energy goals. The fire, which erupted at 3 p.m., quickly spiraled into a major incident, forcing the evacuation of approximately 1,500 residents, closing Highway 1, and blanketing surrounding areas with hazardous smoke.

As a resident of San Jose, just 40 miles north of Moss Landing, I can’t help but feel uneasy. The proximity of this incident raises urgent questions about public safety, environmental health, and the preparedness of renewable energy infrastructure in our state. While I deeply support California’s ambitious transition to clean energy, incidents like this highlight the potential costs of prioritizing speed over safety.

Moss Landing is not just an industrial hub; it’s a critical area for biodiversity. The nearby Elkhorn Slough is home to over 340 bird species, sea otters, and other wildlife, making it one of the most ecologically significant estuaries on the West Coast. Fires like this not only threaten human safety but also pose a significant risk to this delicate ecosystem.

The immediate impacts of the fire are alarming. Evacuation orders were issued for residents south of Elkhorn Slough, north of Molera Road, and west of Castroville Boulevard. The toxic smoke prompted officials to advise nearby communities to stay indoors, seal their homes, and avoid using ventilation systems. Such precautions underscore the serious health risks posed by lithium battery fires, which are notoriously difficult to extinguish and emit toxic gases that can cause respiratory issues and skin and eye irritation.

This is not the first time Moss Landing has faced such challenges. In 2021 and 2022, the facility experienced multiple fire-related incidents, including an overheating event and a blaze caused by a malfunctioning sprinkler system. Each time, investigations pointed to systemic issues in the facility’s design or maintenance. Despite these warnings, it seems the measures taken to prevent future fires have been insufficient. This recurring pattern suggests a concerning lack of accountability from both corporate operators like Vistra Energy and the regulatory bodies overseeing these facilities.

California has been a leader in renewable energy, with battery storage capacity increasing sevenfold from 1,474 megawatts in 2020 to 10,383 megawatts in 2024. Facilities like Moss Landing are central to this progress, storing electricity generated by solar and wind power for use during peak demand hours. However, the rush to meet renewable energy targets must be balanced with stringent safety protocols. The passage of Senate Bill 38 in 2023, which requires emergency response plans for battery storage facilities, was a step in the right direction. Still, the Moss Landing fire raises questions about whether these measures are being adequately enforced.

The fire’s broader implications extend beyond Moss Landing. Communities like mine in San Jose are now questioning whether the state’s push for renewable energy has adequately considered the risks to public health and safety. While transitioning away from fossil fuels is essential to combat climate change, we must ensure that new technologies do not introduce avoidable dangers to local communities.

As I reflect on this incident, I’m struck by the disparity between the corporate narrative of progress and the lived realities of those affected. Residents forced to evacuate or shelter in place are bearing the brunt of a problem they had little say in creating. Meanwhile, companies like Vistra Energy profit from contracts with utilities like PG&E, even as questions about safety remain unanswered.

This fire should serve as a wake-up call. California’s clean energy goals are laudable, but they must not come at the expense of public safety or environmental health. I urge state regulators, local governments, and companies involved in renewable energy to take a hard look at their practices. Stricter safety standards, robust community engagement, and transparent accountability measures are not optional—they are essential. For those of us living in nearby communities, incidents like this remind us of our vulnerability and the urgent need to advocate for safer practices.