A lawsuit filed against Vistra Energy, LG Energy Solution, and PG&E alleges negligence in fire safety measures at a Monterey County battery storage facility that resulted in a massive fire, toxic gas release, and heavy metal contamination.
A massive lithium-ion battery storage site in Monterey County erupted into flames on January 16th, releasing toxic gases into the air and spreading heavy metals across the ground. The blaze, which smoldered for four days, originated from a malfunctioning fire suppression system within a battery storage area at the Moss Landing Power Plant.
The incident prompted the temporary evacuation of over 1,200 residents living within close proximity to the facility, located 18 miles up the coast from Monterey city. A lawsuit filed by four residents accuses multiple energy companies of neglecting adequate fire safety measures at the plant. The plaintiffs, represented by law firm Singleton Schreiber, are targeting Texas-based Vistra Energy, the owner of the affected battery storage facility; LG Energy Solution, the company responsible for installing the lithium-ion batteries; and Pacific Gas & Electric, which operates an adjacent battery storage facility. The lawsuit alleges that these companies prioritized profits over the safety of the community by failing to maintain proper fire suppression systems and adhere to the latest fire safety standards. This incident marks the fourth fire at the facility since 2019, leading the lawsuit to claim a persistent disregard for longstanding safety concerns. Environmental advocate Erin Brockovich, collaborating with Singleton Schreiber on the suit, stated, 'Time and again, we see companies cut corners on safety, only for communities to suffer the consequences.' She emphasized the residents' right to transparency, justice, and real protective measures, condemning the potential long-term health effects of the disaster. Following the fire, heavy metals were detected at levels 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal in the soil within a mile radius of the facility. Residents have reported experiencing skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the particulate matter and hydrogen fluoride gas released during the fire did not pose a significant risk to public health, the lawsuit contends otherwise, highlighting the residents' suffering from nasal and eye irritation, breathing difficulties, headaches, nosebleeds, burning lungs, dizziness, shortness of breath, sores, and skin irritation. The lawsuit also alleges that residents' properties were coated with soot, ash, and toxic chemicals due to the fire. The residents are seeking compensatory and punitive damages to cover expenses related to property damage, health conditions, lost income during evacuations, and future environmental remediation costs. They are also demanding a thorough investigation into the fire's root cause and the implementation of updated safety standards and fire prevention measures across the energy storage industry. Lead attorney Gerald Singleton characterized the fire as a wake-up call for the industry, stating, 'Communities living near these facilities deserve better safeguards, transparency, and accountability.' He stressed that energy sustainability should never compromise public safety. Vistra Energy, the owner of the affected facility, previously stated that they were conducting their own investigation into the fire and environmental monitoring around the plant
BATTERY FIRE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION LAWSUIT SAFETY STANDARDS ENERGY STORAGE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES TOXIC GASES HEAVY METALS PUBLIC HEALTH MONTEREY COUNTY
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