California Advances Battery Storage Safety Rules After Moss Landing Fire

A fire at a large lithium-ion battery storage facility in Moss Landing, California, has led to new safety regulations and ongoing cleanup efforts more than a year later. The blaze occurred 16 months ago at a waterfront plant owned by Texas-based Vistra Corp. It burned for several days and released toxic gas. Cleanup is not complete and is expected to take at least several more months.

Church said the process is slow because crews must remove thousands of batteries while avoiding reignition. He stated that safety must come before speed. Vistra spokesman Justin Daily said more than 31,000 battery modules had been removed, de-energized, and shipped to recycling facilities as of May 8.

The company is now working to enable safe access to batteries in the damaged portion of the building.

The fire prompted California to pass a law last fall requiring battery storage safety standards and coordination with local fire departments. A new bipartisan federal bill introduced this month would provide $30 million annually for five years in research and testing.

The bill was authored by Rep. Jimmy Panetta and co-led by Rep. Pat Harrigan. California Energy Commission spokesperson Stacey Shepard said current battery systems use improved technology and are placed in outdoor containers.

California has expanded battery storage from 500 megawatts in 2020 to more than 15,700 megawatts in 2025. The state aims for 100% clean energy by 2045. Church has called for more local control over battery project locations.