Moss Landing

Monterey County has updates on cleanup efforts following the January battery plant fire. But residents and some supervisors remain frustrated by the lack of information about possible human and environmental health impacts. Ongoing research from Moss Landing Marine Labs may help answer their questions.

Central Coast State Sen. John Laird's bill requiring more robust emergency action plans and fire hazard inspections for battery energy storage systems is headed to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. And, water pumps and sprinklers have kept giant sequoias within the Sierra National Forest safe from the ongoing Garnet Fire.

Vistra Corp. plans to begin removing damaged batteries from its Moss Landing site later this month, and a bill moving through the state legislature would require schools to alert students and staff when immigration enforcement agents are on campuses.

Santa Cruz County's Commission for the Environment hosted its third and final meeting about battery energy storage systems, and PG&E announces a June 2026 restart date for the Elkhorn battery facility in Moss Landing.

Vistra Corp and the US Environmental Protection Agency reached a formal agreement related to the cleanup of the site of the January battery fire in Moss Landing. Plus, a report names Santa Cruz as the nation's least affordable rental market for the third year in a row.

An underwhelming takeaway from a recent Moss Landing Vistra battery fire report. Plus, universal pre-K kicks off during the 2025-26 school year for Monterey Bay area families.

Structure demolition at the site of the Moss Landing battery fire could begin this month, and owner Vistra Energy will be responsible for compiling a health risk assessment. Plus, paternity leave rates are increasing in California.

The Salinas City Council repealed four ordinances related to tenants' rights that went into effect in January. And, a lawyer wants to move a lawsuit against PG&E, Vistra Energy and construction and chemical companies over the Moss Landing fire back to state court from the federal court.

Pacific Gas and Electric is delaying the reopening of its Moss Landing battery energy storage plant. And, white South Africans are coming to the United States as refugees claiming racial persecution. A local expert explains why that doesn't add up.

The percentage of homeless students in Monterey County is the highest in California. And, the county says it has corrected its online dashboard of test results following the Vistra fire.