Electric Futures is a new podcast series from the University of Southern California exploring lesser-known stories of the energy transition, from the perspectives of the people most impacted by the changes that transition will bring. Season 1 invites listeners on a journey to California's Imperial Valley with former USC provost and Vivian Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Charles Zukoski.

The Imperial Valley is an agricultural area east of San Diego and bordering Mexico. It's suddenly in the spotlight thanks to its vast deposits of lithium, a chemical element necessary for the production of batteries needed for electric vehicles, grid storage, and consumer products. The extraction and processing of this “white gold” is poised to bring a massive influx of capital to the Imperial Valley, which has the highest unemployment rate in California.

Electric Futures Season 1 explores the tradeoffs the community must make as it weighs economic opportunity, environmental impact, and worldwide hunger for lithium.

All six episodes will be released on January 24th, 2024.