Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire Response
We are committed to doing our work with respect for the Moss Landing community and local stakeholders. Transparency and community engagement throughout the process are central to our approach.
Since the January 2025 fire in Moss Landing, EPA has been on-site providing technical assistance in the planning and preparation for battery removal. We are working to ensure that Vistra safely removes and disposes of batteries impacted by the fire.
On this page:
- Work Highlights
- Community Safety
- Background and EPA’s Involvement
- What is Each Agency’s Role in the Fire Response?
- Battery Treatment, Transport & Disposal
- Completed Activities
- Response Timeline
- Documents
Work Highlights
On July 17, 2025, EPA entered into an agreement with Vistra to remove damaged batteries from its property.
- The agreement covers the battery removal preparation and planning work that Vistra has been doing voluntarily and future work.
- Building stabilization and demolition planning is underway to safely access the batteries.
- All battery removal work will be done under our close oversight. We are coordinating with Monterey County throughout.
We are committed to transparency. To share information on this project, we are developing a Community Involvement Plan.
- EPA will develop and implement the plan with support from Vistra.
- We have been interviewing community members, local officials, organizations, and other stakeholders to develop the plan.
- Interviews will help identify information gaps and best ways for sharing information and community engagement.
- The plan will be posted to the documents section of this website when complete.
Community Safety
Community safety throughout the project is our priority. Batteries damaged in a fire may be unstable and could catch fire again during work. We are overseeing Vistra as they take these safety steps:
- Constant air monitoring around the property.
- Keep a 24/7 private firefighting company on-site out of an abundance of caution. The company will be able to respond right away and coordinate with the local fire department if a fire starts.
- Maintain an EPA-approved emergency response plan.
For more information on the battery removal process, see our Battery Treatment, Transport, and Disposal section.
Background and EPA’s Involvement
- On January 16, 2025, the Moss Landing 300 battery energy storage system at the Moss Landing Vistra power plant (Monterey County, Calif.) caught fire.
- The 300-megawatt system held about 100,000 lithium-ion batteries.
- About 55 percent of the batteries were damaged by the fire.
- Local agencies immediately requested our support for air monitoring. EPA deployed to the scene and did air monitoring January 17-20.
- The State of California also requested we oversee the battery removal process.
- Learn More: Battery Fire Response Timeline
What is Each Agency’s Role in the Fire Response?
EPA
- Oversee the safe removal of batteries from the property. Our oversight applies to:
- activities within the fence line of the property, and
- preparation of the batteries for transport to recycling or disposal facilities.
- Ensure transparency and community engagement throughout the battery removal work.
- Provide technical assistance to Vistra for battery:
- removal,
- transport,
- recycling and disposal, and
- closely coordinate with local and state governments to ensure information sharing, consistency and efficiency.
Vistra
- Respond to fire damage and safely remove damaged batteries. All work is being done under federal and state oversight.
- Vistra will perform and pay for the removal of the impacted lithium-ion batteries from the site under EPA’s oversight.
- Submit detailed work plans to EPA, implement comprehensive safety measures to protect nearby residents and workers during the cleanup process, and participate in community involvement activities to enable meaningful community engagement throughout the removal process.
State and Local Government
- Oversee all activities:
- outside the property fence line, and
- on the property that are not related to battery removal.
Monterey County Health Department
- Learn more about response activities in the community at the Monterey County website.
State of California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
- Collaborate with Monterey County on outside of the fence activities, such as community sampling.
- Coordinate with EPA on inside-the-fence activities.
Resources
News Releases
Battery Treatment, Transport & Disposal
EPA will oversee the safe removal and disposal of batteries impacted by the fire.
De-energizing Batteries for Safety
- Under our technical guidance, Vistra will use various methods to de-energize the batteries before transport.
- Undamaged batteries will be de-energized.
- Some batteries may not be able to be de-energized. These will be treated on the property before disposal.
Shipping and Disposal
- We will ensure packaging and transportation follows the U.S. Department of Transportation safety regulations.
- Depending on the type of battery waste, recycling may be possible.
Completed Activities
Before reaching the agreement with Vistra in July 2025 on the battery removal process, the following activities were completed on site:
- Disconnected (delinked) batteries from the building’s infrastructure for safety.
- Removed fire debris with asbestos from part of the damaged building.
- Debris was safely transported and disposed of at the Forward Landfill. The landfill is in Manteca, Calif., about 135 miles northeast of Monterey.
- Removed about 586,300 gallons (about as much as an Olympic-sized swimming pool) water that was stored in tanks on the property. The water was sampled, determined to be non-hazardous and sent for disposal.
Battery Fire Response Timeline
January 16, 2025
- Battery fire starts at Vistra's energy storage facility. The facility has about 100,000 battery modules.
- Local agencies respond and request EPA assistance with perimeter air monitoring.
What caused the fire?
Vistra, and the battery manufacturer, are still investigating the cause of the fire.
January 17, 2025
- EPA begins perimeter air monitoring early the morning of Jan. 17.
- EPA sets up nine air monitoring locations at and around the site.
- The monitors look for mineral acid gases (like hydrogen fluoride) and particulates.
January 18, 2025
- Fire goes out.
January 20, 2025
- After smoke subsides, EPA consults with Monterey County and transfers air monitoring stations to Vistra.
January 22, 2025
- EPA issues Notice of Federal Response Action to Vistra.
- The notice documents why an urgent response to the fire is needed.
- It also outlines the work that needs to be done to address hazardous substances on the site.
- Vistra confirms it will voluntarily do the response.
- EPA then begins providing technical assistance to Vistra for the battery removal process and reviews Vistra's plans for battery removal.
February 18, 2025
- Flareup inside building occurs, causing smoke in the building. Visible flareup subsided.
- State of California Environmental Protection Agency requests EPA lead the oversight of Vistra’s battery removal work.
February 22, 2025
- Battery delinking begins.
March 13, 2025
- Battery delinking complete.
March-July, 2025
- Negotiated agreement outlining Vistra’s obligations and clarifying the EPA’s expectations for the battery removal process.
- Developed and performed thorough technical reviews on over 30 detailed plans and procedures in preparation for safe battery removal, partial building demolition, and building stabilization.
July 17, 2025
- EPA and Vistra reach agreement (pdf) for the removal of lithium-ion batteries. This agreement formally establishes Vistra’s obligations and clarifies the EPA’s expectations for the battery removal process.
Ongoing
- EPA continues to provide on-site technical assistance and oversight of battery removal process.