Tesla Moss Landing power storage facility fire shuts down Highway 1; Residents told to shelter in place

MOSS LANDING — A Tesla Megapack lithium battery electrical power unit caught fire Tuesday at the massive Moss Landing energy storage facility, shutting down close by Highway 1 and triggering a shelter in location buy for close by people.

PG&E instructed Bloomberg Enterprise Information that firefighters ended up battling to maintain the blaze from spreading.  As a precaution, the battery storage facility in Monterey County has been disconnected from the point out electrical power grid.

No injuries have been reported. 

The early early morning hearth triggered a shelter in spot get with county officials telling persons in the place west of Dolan and By way of Tanques roadways, south of Struve Highway and north of Potrero Road to shut their windows and transform off their ventilation units.

 The California Highway Patrol closed Highway 1 at 6:59 a.m.  Caltrans officials have estimates that the freeway closure in the spot would very last into the afternoon.

Located below the decommissioned towers of what was at the time California’s major power plant, the facility is built up of 256 Tesla megapacks that act as 1 huge battery for the state grid.  

When it went on the internet, it promptly grew to become PG&E’s biggest storage facility.

“So the 182.5 megawatts that Elkhorn delivers can electrical power 250,000 households,” said PG&E CEO Patti Poppe at the plant opening. “Usual utility installations have been in the 10, probably 50 megawatts was a large one particular. 182 is an amazing venture.”