Santa Cruz supervisors press for independent probe and local testing after Moss Landing battery fire

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors heard an update on the Jan. 16 fire at the Vistra Energy battery energy storage facility in Moss Landing and unanimously directed the chair to request independent state-level reviews and to arrange for local testing and public reporting. The board acted after a presentation by Monterey County and statements from Vistra, county staff and air-quality officials.

Monterey County Emergency Management Director Kelsey Scanlon described the incident timeline, early evacuations and the activation of the county's Emergency Operations Center. Scanlon said air monitoring by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and an independent contractor, CTEH, so far has not recorded off-site hydrogen fluoride releases above health thresholds and that particulate measurements have generally been within expected local ranges. She told supervisors the state mobilized a health assessment team to evaluate water, soil and dust samples.

Vistra senior director Brad Watson told the board the company is working with the EPA, independent consultants and local agencies on monitoring and site stabilization. Watson said Vistra has posted monitoring results on a company response website and is partnering with the Community Foundation of Monterey County to provide immediate assistance to evacuated households and a separate program for affected businesses.

Richard Steadman, air pollution control officer for the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, said the district's network of monitors showed usual seasonal particulate concentrations in most locations and that EPA readings to date indicate no detectable hydrogen fluoride beyond the facility perimeter. But Steadman warned that heavy metals from battery fires are persistent and can bioaccumulate, and he said a fuller picture requires coordinated surface and soil testing beyond just air monitoring.

Public commenters from Santa Cruz and neighboring communities urged more aggressive sampling of soils, water and seafood, raised concerns about heavy metals reported by marine researchers, and asked the board to press for independent investigations. Several speakers said they experienced symptoms during and after the fire and asked the county to publicize testing and monitoring results.

Supervisor John Koenig moved — and the board approved unanimously — that the chair write to state regulators requesting independent investigations, that the county coordinate with Monterey County and state agencies on further testing, and that the county monitor and publicize sampling and health findings as they become available. County staff said they will work with Monterey County and state partners to consolidate results and report back.

The supervisors were careful to note that the Moss Landing plant is outside Santa Cruz County and that the county's immediate role is coordination and information-sharing. County staff said there is one pending battery-storage application in Santa Cruz County and reiterated that any local permitting decisions will require zoning changes, environmental review and public hearings over the next 18–24 months.

The board said it wants ongoing, transparent reporting of monitoring and investigation results and expects to revisit permitting and siting policies for battery storage facilities once the Moss Landing after-action reports and the state investigations provide clearer findings.