Title
Adopt a resolution to ratify the Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the County Administrative Officer or designee on January 17, 2025, related to the Vistra Energy fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant that started on January 16, 2025, causing a large fire including burning of lithium batteries, damage to private property, smoke and potential hazardous fumes, and resulting in evacuation and road closures in the Moss Landing area, thereby causing conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property nearby (4/5ths vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt a resolution to ratify the Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the County Administrative Officer or designee on January 17, 2025, related to the Vistra Energy fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant that started on January 16, 2025, causing a large fire including burning of lithium batteries, damage to private property, smoke and potential hazardous fumes, and resulting in evacuation and road closures in the Moss Landing area, thereby causing conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property nearby (4/5ths vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to California Government Code section 8630(a) and Monterey County Code section 2.68.025 the County Administrative Officer or designee may proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the County is affected by or likely to be affected by a public calamity. The Government Code requires that an emergency proclamation be ratified by the Board of Supervisors within 7 days of its issuance, and be reviewed at least once every 60 days until the emergency is terminated.
On January 16, 2025, shortly after 3:00 p.m. a fire began at the Vistra Energy (“Vistra”) 300-MW Phase I battery energy storage facility located at the Moss Landing Power Plant. The Vistra operation is one of the largest lithium battery storage facilities in the world and the fire caused the lithium batterie...
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