Monterey County Declares State of Emergency Following Vistra Energy Battery Storage Facility Fire
In a special convocation held on Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously sanctioned a resolution to proclaim a local state of emergency in response to the conflagration at the Vistra Energy battery power storage facility in Moss Landing, which commenced last week. The resolution seeks to address the manifold concerns engendered by the incident, including the potential emission of hazardous fumes and the imperative for federal and state assistance to mitigate the ramifications on the local area.
The fire, which erupted on Thursday, involved lithium-ion batteries housed within the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility—renowned as the largest installation of its kind globally, boasting a total capacity of 750 megawatts. The causative factors underlying the fire are currently under investigation; nevertheless, the incident has precipitated considerable apprehension regarding air quality and public health.
County health authorities have advised residents to remain indoors, keep windows and doors securely shut, limit outdoor activities, and deactivate ventilation systems due to the potential release of toxic fumes from the fire. Several inhabitants have reported experiencing symptoms such as a metallic taste in their mouths and discovering an oily residue on their vehicles. District 4 Supervisor Wendy Root Askew implored the public to meticulously document and report their symptoms to the county health department for subsequent action.
The emergency resolution confers authority upon county departments to solicit assistance from the state and federal governments to address the fallout of the fire. District 2 Supervisor Glenn Church underscored the significance of adherence to Senate Bill 38, which mandates that owners and operators of battery storage facilities devise emergency response action plans in concert with local agencies. Church also advocated for the formation of an ad hoc committee to collaborate with researchers and experts to ascertain the optimal course of action moving forward.
The Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, completed in August 2023, comprises 122 individual containers housing in excess of 110,000 battery modules. The facility, which secured permitting through the county, is one of several battery storage installations in the vicinity, including a PG&E facility that remains operational.
In the wake of the fire, evacuation directives for approximately 1,200 residents were rescinded on Friday evening, and the adjacent state Highway 1 remained closed in both directions until Sunday evening. The county has been diligently monitoring air quality, receiving reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicating that levels of hydrogen fluoride and particulate matter do not pose a risk to public health.
The community has galvanized to address health concerns and seek elucidation regarding the incident. Residents have convened at both official and community-led meetings to deliberate on the impact of the fire and the necessity for augmented safety measures. County officials have committed to transparency, pledging to disseminate raw data and pertinent information as it becomes available.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors' decision to declare a state of emergency underscores the exigency of the situation and the necessity for coordinated efforts to safeguard the well-being of the community. As the investigation progresses, authorities will endeavor to determine the causative factors of the fire and implement measures to forestall similar incidents in the future.