A recent fire at one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities poisoned a vital nature reserve in Northern California.
High levels of nickel, manganese, and cobalt were found in the soil within 2 miles of the Vistra Moss Landing Power Plant and Energy Storage Facility, KQED reported, citing measurements taken by scientists at San Jose State University. Those heavy metals were found in soil samples shortly after the facility caught fire on January 16.
The fire burned for several days, NBC Bay Area reported, and noted that the increase in toxic metals related to baseline measurements that had been conducted prior to the fire. Initially, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under then-President Joe Biden, along with local authorities, claimed the fire at the energy storage facility released no toxins.
Local officials said they didn’t detect higher levels of…
