A powerful new documentary highlighting community voices at the heart of the global energy transition will make its global debut this Earth Day, April 22. 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.
“This is a global story with local roots,” said Benner. “Power in the Desert brings the issues we explored in our book to life through Emiliano’s lens—centering the people and places that are too often treated as sacrifice zones in the name of progress.”
The film’s genesis lies in an unexpected meeting: Benner, Pastor, and Rodriguez Nuesch crossed paths during a Rockefeller Foundation residency in Bellagio, Italy, where they found common ground in their research, storytelling, and commitment to environmental justice. Intrigued by Benner and Pastor’s work in the Salton Sea region, Rodriguez Nuesch decided to pursue a film that would also highlight the lithium-rich regions of Argentina and Chile.
“Chris and Manuel invited me into their world, introduced me to their community partners, and gave me a deeper understanding of what’s at stake,” Rodriguez Nuesch said. “I wanted to tell a story that was grounded in lived experiences, not just policy or science. It’s a road trip of discovery across three countries, where I met incredible people—from Indigenous activists to artists to academics—grappling with the meaning of sustainability in their own lives.”
The documentary follows this journey across continents, featuring interviews with community leaders like Luis Olmedo, an environmental activist in California who embodies local resilience and self-determination. In Chile, Rodriguez Nuesch encounters a local political candidate donning a Zorro costume to spark conversations about land rights. And in Argentina, he travels with a professor known as the “Queen of Potatoes,” who is working to revive ancestral farming practices in the shadow of mining development.
Pastor praised Rodriguez Nuesch’s approach. “This isn’t your typical documentary. It’s deeply personal and remarkably nuanced,” he said. “Some community members are hopeful about the opportunities lithium extraction brings, others are fearful of its consequences—and many are somewhere in between. The film honors all of those voices.”
Rodriguez Nuesch hopes the film prompts reflection on the hidden costs of the energy transition.
“We take for granted that the energy transition is a clean transition,” he said, “but the reality is that it comes with impacts—especially for the local communities affected by extraction. I hope this film sparks a conversation about what sustainable development truly means.”
The title Power in the Desert carries a dual meaning, reflecting both the role lithium plays in powering the energy transition and the need to empower desert communities to shape their own futures. As Benner notes, “There are no easy answers, but there are essential questions we must ask—and to do that well, we need to shift power to the communities most affected.”
Power in the Desert will be available to stream online with a global discussion on April 22 from 4 to 5:30 pm. Register for the screening and learn more.
