Videos
Watch "A Better Next Big Thing" on PBS KVCR
New documentary based on Charging Forward
Renowned filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth brings to life a compelling new documentary inspired by the book Charging Forward.
Featuring appearances from co-authors Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor, this thought-provoking film looks at the world’s largest and cleanest lithium supply in California’s Salton Sea region.
As the global economy transitions to renewable energy, the documentary asks: Can this rural, underserved community rewrite the rules of economic opportunity and ensure the green energy revolution works for everyone?
A BETTER NEXT BIG THING premiered on PBS Riverside/KVCR on April 10, 2025 and is available to stream for free on PBS and KVCR. Watch the film to explore how one community’s story could shape a more equitable and sustainable future.
Trailer for A Better Next Big Thing
Power in the Desert
Power in the Desert, directed by Argentinian filmmaker Emiliano Rodriguez Nuesch, — founder of the content production studio Pacífico — traces the ripple effects of the lithium boom across three distinct regions—Argentina’s Andean highlands, Chile’s Atacama Desert, and California’s Imperial Valley—where local communities find themselves on the frontlines of the clean energy future.
The 55-minute film was inspired by Charging Forward, co-authored by UC Santa Cruz Environmental Studies and Sociology professor Chris Benner and University of Southern California professor Manuel Pastor, a UCSC alumnus and former faculty member. The book examines the economic and environmental justice implications of lithium extraction in California’s Imperial Valley, often dubbed “Lithium Valley,” and explores how to ensure frontline communities are not left behind in the global push toward renewable energy.
University of California
Lithium Valley: Opportunities for Batteries, Jobs, and Equitable Development
The UC Student and Policy Center hosted a Charging Forward book talk on February 19, 2025 in Sacramento with Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor, moderated by Blanca Begert, Climate Reporter at POLITICO.
USC Equity Research Institute Book Talk
Charging Forward: Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles, and a Just Future
In a conversation moderated by Professor Colin Maclay, Manuel Pastor explored the intersection of environmental justice, renewable energy, and community equity with fellow USC Professors Juan De Lara and Jill Johnston.
CSPAN Book TV
Charging Forward - Lithium Valley, Electric Vehicles and a Just Future
Professors Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor discussed the discovery of lithium in California's Salton Sea region and the role of the mineral in the electric vehicle industry. The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco hosted this event in October 2024.