Cleanup at the Vistra facility site in Moss Landing will soon enter an intensive phase.

Erik Chalhoub here, reflecting on the nearly year-and-a-half since Vistra’s battery energy storage facility caught fire in Moss Landing.

We’ve covered the studies, the lawsuits, the business closures and reopenings, and the constant frustration from residents. Through this time, the cleanup of the facility continues to go at a slow and steady pace.

According to the most recent update from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 34,786 out of an estimated 35,772 battery modules have been removed for recycling so far.

Monterey County Department of Emergency Services Director Kelsey Scanlon told the Board of Supervisors on June 2 that no flare-ups have occurred during the removal process.

This first phase of the cleanup is expected to wrap up by the end of this month, according to the EPA—and then the more intense phase begins.

The second phase includes accessing the heavily damaged portions of the building and removing the melted batteries, which may be unstable. The EPA advises the public that smoke may be seen from the building over the next few months as crews remove these batteries, with air monitoring underway 24/7. More trucks will travel on Highway 1 and Dolan Roadto transport these batteries off site. 

Once that’s complete, then the actual demolition of the building will begin.

“They’re entering into the more unstable portion of the debris removal in which we’ll be more actively monitoring activities on site,” Scanlon said.

She noted that the cleanup and demolition is expected to be a two-year process, so work will likely continue well into 2027.

You can view and sign up for updates on the EPA’s website.