On January 16th, 2025, a fire started at the world's largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Moss Landing, 20 miles from UC Santa Cruz. The fire burned for at least two days, creating a plume of smoke that drifted above the nearby estuary of Elkhorn Slough and the surrounding agricultural fields.

What were the impacts of this fire on the local ecosystem and communities? What can be learned about energy storage safety? And what is (or should be) the role of BESS technologies in moves towards a just transition? Join us for a panel discussion with marine geologist Dr Ivano Aiello and environmental studies scholars Dr. J. Mijin Cha and Dr. Dustin Mulvaney focused on the climate justice issues raised by the Moss Landing BESS fire. Link