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Environmental workers race to clear toxic debris left by LA fires

8 Comments
By Chad Terhune

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The largest of the highly toxic waste sources are the overly-hyped EVs and hybrid cars. There's a reality of how "green" EVs actually are. In the fires, those have melted into the ground like nuke waste.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

The largest of the highly toxic waste sources are the overly-hyped EVs and hybrid cars.

Source for this, the article clearly mentions lead and arsenic as very important pollutants after the fires, those are not components of the EV and hybrid batteries.

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Source (for those unable to do their own research).... EPA site on hazardous waste removal in the areas affected by the recent wildfires :

EPA will also remove lithium-ion batteries from vehicles, homes, and other products. Many homes have damaged or destroyed lithium-ion batteries, lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, and electric and hybrid vehicles. The batteries should be considered extremely dangerous, even if they look intact. Lithium-ion batteries can spontaneously re-ignite, explode, and emit toxic gases and particulates even after the fire is out.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Source 

Nothing in your source says the "largest" source are EVs or hybrid cars, it only says that it is included in what is removed. Are you recognizing your claim is false then?

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The largest of the highly toxic waste sources are the overly-hyped EVs and hybrid cars. There's a reality of how "green" EVs actually are. In the fires, those have melted into the ground like nuke waste.

Absolutely the largest source in this mess. Horrible.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The largest Li-ion batteries are in the vehicles. The second largest are the home storage systems. Simple facts.

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They do not mention the huge battery plant fire fire that released far more toxicity last week.

LA Times, quote: When a massive fire erupted at one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities in Monterey County, it didn’t just send plumes of smoke over nearby communities — it cast a pall over the future of California’s clean energy industry.

The fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant, which ignited on Jan. 16, burned for five days and ultimately destroyed around 80% of the batteries inside the building. Now, as the smoke clears, Monterey-area officials warn that the blaze may be a harbinger as the state increases its reliance on renewable energy, electric vehicles and other battery-powered devices.

“I know green is good, but we’ve got to move slowly,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church told The Times. “What we’re doing with this technology is way ahead of government regulations and ahead of the industry’s ability to control it.”

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Absolutely the largest source in this mess. Horrible.

Still a baseless claim, even after being challenged. Repeating a false claim do not make it less false.

The largest Li-ion batteries are in the vehicles

But that does not make it the largest source of toxic debris as you claimed those are two completely different things. If a 5-stories building had a full system of renewable energy with batteries that would be the largest in the area and it would not make it a significant source of the toxic debris.

Your simple facts do not support the claim you made.

They do not mention the huge battery plant fire fire that released far more toxicity last week.

Being a single source it would be understandable that the rest completely outweigh its importance, I mean the article clearly mentions lead and arsenic as important sources of toxicity, batteries for EV and hybrids do not contain lead nor arsenic.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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