Battery Storage Safety Bill Passes Senate, Advances to Assembly

In early 2025, a major fire at the Vistra Energy’s Moss Landing battery storage facility in California, one of the world’s largest lithium battery storage facilities, caused extensive damage and prompted evacuations in the area. The fire, which was one of the largest known lithium-ion battery fire, highlighted safety concerns within the U.S. energy storage industry and led to ongoing investigations and discussions about safety protocols and battery technology.

In the aftermath of the fire, authorities, industry experts, and residents worked to understand the underlying safety issues and ensure that lessons were learned to prevent similar incidents in the future.

To address the danger and improve safety standards, on March 21, 2025, CA Senator John Laird (Senate District 17) introduced SB 283 to ensure that local fire departments can consult and inspect battery storage facilities before they go online. The bill also mandates that these facilities adhere to the highest safety and hazard mitigation standards. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support the bill. The bill was co-sponsored by the CSAEW and the Coalition of California Utility Employees.

Thanks to efforts by IBEW members, along with other officials, the bill officially passed the Senate on May 28, and is headed to the CA Assembly for a vote. This major win for IBEW members strengthens safety standards for large-scale energy systems by incorporating the latest NFPA 855 standards into the California Building Standards code, and helps protect workers and first responders as the state expands its clean energy infrastructure.

SB 283 sends a clear message: the clean energy future must be built by highly skilled and trained union workers. SB 283 locks in key provisions from Assembly bill 205, which streamlined siting processes for these battery storage projects, while guaranteeing skilled and trained workforce on the installation. The support of this bill means that as California continues to build out its battery storage facilities, IBEW members will be doing that work to the highest safety standards.