Battery Fire at Vistra Power Plant in Moss Landing: Response Initiated

The battery removal process at the Moss Landing Vistra power plant, following the January 2025 fire, is currently underway under strict EPA oversight. The cleanup and removal of the damaged lithium-ion batteries are expected to take over a year due to significant safety challenges.

In July 2025, the EPA and Vistra entered into a detailed agreement requiring Vistra to submit comprehensive battery removal work plans and gain EPA approval before proceeding. Vistra must conduct and finance the removal and disposal under EPA supervision, with EPA retaining authority to take over if standards are not met.

Vistra will carefully assess and handle each of the approximately 100,000 damaged lithium-ion battery modules, many weighing several hundred pounds. Batteries will be de-energized using approved technical methods; some that cannot be de-energized will be treated onsite before disposal.

Over 30 safety plans and procedures are in place, including constant thermal camera monitoring of batteries during handling, air quality monitoring and sampling around the site, and having a private firefighting company onsite 24/7 during demolition to immediately respond to any flare-ups or fires.

The cleanup involves controlled transport and disposal or recycling of batteries following U.S. Department of Transportation safety regulations. Previous work included removing contaminated debris and about 586,300 gallons of non-hazardous water safely disposed offsite. Air monitoring aims to protect the community’s health during the removal phases.

EPA began perimeter air monitoring on January 17, 2025, and transferred air monitoring stations to Vistra on January 20, 2025. The battery fire at Vistra’s energy storage facility started on January 16, 2025, and lasted until January 18, 2025, damaging about 55 percent of the batteries.

Monterey County Health Department and the State of California’s CalEPA are involved in response activities. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Vistra and the battery manufacturer. Building stabilization and demolition planning is underway for safe access to the batteries.

EPA has done extensive work dealing with batteries after large-scale fires, most recently for the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The EPA will oversee the safe removal and disposal of batteries impacted by the fire, with a focus on community safety, worker safety, and environmental protection. EPA is developing a Community Involvement Plan to share information on the project.

All battery removal work will be done under EPA's close oversight, coordinating with Monterey County. Community safety is a priority during the project, with measures such as constant air monitoring, a private firefighting company on-site, and an EPA-approved emergency response plan.

The damaged lithium-ion batteries, weighed several hundred pounds each, are being carefully assessed and handled during the cleanup process at the Moss Landing Vistra power plant.
Industry giants like Vistra need to prioritize environmental science, as the battery removal and disposal work are financed by them, following strict EPA regulations.
The lithium-ion battery modules are being de-energized using approved technical methods, while those that cannot be de-energized are treated onsite before disposal.
As part of the cleanup, water contaminated by the fire was safely disposed offsite, while previous work also included removing debris.
The significance of the air quality during the removal phases cannot be overstated, with constant monitoring and sampling carried out to protect the community’s health.
The EPA has been actively involved since the battery fire at the Vistra energy storage facility in January 2025, with perimeter air monitoring initiated on January 17 and transferred to Vistra two days later.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Vistra and the battery manufacturer, but the EPA is focused on ensuring community safety, worker safety, and environmental protection during the cleanup process.
The EPA's role in the project extends beyond oversight, as they are also developing a Community Involvement Plan to share information with the community.
Other departments such as the Monterey County Health Department and the State of California’s CalEPA are also involved in response activities related to the battery fire at the Vistra facility.
Data and cloud computing technology are vital tools in the cleanup and ongoing analysis of the battery fire, enabling the EPA to make informed decisions and monitor the progress of the project.
The affected batteries will be removed, and their components will be either disposed of, recycled, or further analyzed to understand their impact on climate-change and the environment.
Despite the challenges, the cleanup is progressing, with a focus on safety measures like thermal camera monitoring, firefighting company on-site, and an EPA-approved emergency response plan.
In the aftermath of the battery fire, Vistra's home-and-garden, business, and personal-finance operations might experience changes driven by increased investing in cleaner energy solutions, waste management, and climate-change mitigation, as well as efforts to improve their batteries' performance and safety in fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, travel, sports, and technology industries.