As co-founder of Energy Safety Response Group, the energy storage industry’s only full life cycle provider for safety and emergency management solutions, and former battery subject matter expert for the Fire Department of New York, I want to address concerns raised in a recent letter regarding battery storage [“BESS Again, Letters, January 30].
The fire at California’s Moss Landing power plant has understandably led to public concern, but it is critical to recognize that this facility does not represent the current state of the industry. Moss Landing was an archaic anomaly, and we have come far since its creation.
Moss Landing, one of the largest battery storage sites in the world and equally unique, was housed in a repurposed 1950s power plant with design constraints that created unforeseen safety challenges. Most battery storage projects today instead consist of smaller, modular units designed with built-in fire protection. These units are often 1/400th the size of Moss Landing or smaller and are designed to prevent potential fire spread beyond a single enclosure. This ensures minimal impact, faster response, and far lower risk to surrounding communities.
It’s also important to put fire risks in perspective. Nationwide, fire-related incidents at battery storage facilities are exceptionally rare: Only 23 cases have been reported in the past decade, despite a 25,000 percent increase in energy storage deployment since 2018. In contrast, the U.S. Fire Administration reported 12,600 fires attributed to electrical and equipment failures in nonresidential buildings in 2022 alone.
New York enforces some of the nation’s strictest battery storage safety regulations, mandating multiple layers of active and passive protection, real-time monitoring, and emergency response preparedness. These measures have proven effective: In the rare instances when fires have occurred in the state, there have been no reported injuries or harmful impacts on air and soil quality.
Even at Moss Landing, air sampling showed particulate levels comparable to typical pollution, with no detection of harmful toxic gases beyond the site.
Limiting the extent of battery failure and ensuring containment of the fire, unlike what happened at Moss Landing, should ensure that future incidents continue and improve on this record.
Battery storage is not just safe, it is essential. These systems help prevent blackouts, stabilize electricity prices and support New York’s transition to cleaner, more reliable energy. Public concerns are understandable, but battery storage technology has been rigorously tested, regulated, and proven to operate safely.
With strong oversight in place, New Yorkers can embrace this critical infrastructure with confidence.
Paul Rogers
Co-Founder
Energy Safety Response Group
New York City
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