Moss Landing Battery Energy Storage

Moss Landing, California is home to the largest collection of lithium ion batteries for grid electricity storage in the world. Developers Vistra (Moss Landing BESS) and Pacific Gas and Electric partnered with Tesla (Elkhorn Slough BESS) have onsite combined well over a gigawatt of power. The facilities take advantage of a largest substation at the once site of California's largest natural gas power plant, affectionately known to locals as "mighty moss." Moss Landing’s Phase I & II combined were 400 MW/1,600 MWh and Phase III will bring the facility size to 750 MW/3,000 MWh. The Elkhorn Slough project (182.5 MW / 730 MWh) was approved in 2018 and online in 2022. These battery storage facilities operate alongside a combined cycle natural gas power plant. While there are significant local air quality improvements from replacing natural gas with battery storage, there have been several fires at the battery complex, one requiring shelter in place emergency. Moss Landing is an environmental justice community with census blocks for six miles around Moss Landing Power Plant show community is 50% or more minority households and 53-82.5% of students across four districts in the 6 mile radius received reduced or free meals. This case study offers insights into an environmental justice community's experience with energy transition during the operational stage of lithium ion batteries for grid electricity storage.