Watch "A Better Next Big Thing":

A newdocumentary based on Charging Forward premieres April 10, 2025 on PBS KVCR

As the world races to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, lithium has become the backbone of the battery-powered future. Beneath California’s Salton Sea lies one of the world’s largest deposits, positioning this economically marginalized region—now called Lithium Valley—at the heart of a global transformation.

A Better Next Big Thing, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth, asks: Can this community rewrite the rules of who benefits from the green economy? Featuring voices from Imperial Valley and appearances by Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor, the film explores how labor, local organizers, and state leaders are fighting for a just energy transition.

The film premieres on April 10th at 8:30 PM Pacific Time on KVCR channels, and also available to stream on demand at: https://video.kvcr.org/show/a-better-next-big-thing/.