Toxic Metal Fallout from Battery Plant Fire Contaminates California Wetland

More than 18 months after a January 2025 fire at the Moss Landing battery storage facility released an estimated 55,000 pounds of heavy metals into nearby wetlands, researchers and regulators remain divided over the disaster's lasting impact. A peer-reviewed study by San Jose State University found metal concentrations in Elkhorn Slough soil increased 100 to 1,000 times above baseline levels. However, a report commissioned by facility owner Vistra Corp., released in August 2026, concluded that soil, sediment and surface water samples taken months later posed no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. The timing of sampling explains the discrepancy, with San Jose State collecting data immediately after the fire and Vistra's consultant testing four to nine months later. State regulators have cautioned that the report's conclusions are limited. Meanwhile, a class-action lawsuit against Vistra and PG&E continues, and the fire's cause remains undetermined. The EPA is overseeing the largest lithium-ion battery cleanup in its history, with Phase 2 demolition expected to continue into 2027.