Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · 21d

Check out our new report!

The Devil Is In The Details: Environmental Health Impacts Of The Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power Project

ccvhealth.org/hells-kitche...

Hell’s Kitchen Report — Comite Civico del Valle

ccvhealth.org

1 1

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · 24d

California’s clean energy goals will only succeed if they include the communities and tribes most impacted. By embracing stronger mitigation measures, Lithium Valley could power a clean energy future that also empowers local residents.

calexicochronicle.com/2025/09/15/o...

OP-ED: Lithium Valley must empower communities and tribes - Calexico Chronicle

Dr. James Blair of Cal Polytechnic University, Pomona weighs in on how Lithium Valley must empower communities and tribes.

calexicochronicle.com

2 5 6

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · 24d

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San José State University is hiring an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies. We welcome applicants from all fields of environmental studies who apply an environmental justice lens to their work. jobs.sjsu.edu/sj/en-us/job...

San José State University - Details - Assistant Professor - Environmental Studies

jobs.sjsu.edu

48 55

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Aug 14

Name added.

Ruth EJ Booth (she/they) @ruthejbooth.bsky.social · Aug 14

"If your books were uploaded to LibGen/fed into the LLMs, add your name to the potential class action lawsuit by tomorrow." Details:

LibDem database: www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...

Attorney form: www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...

(This information comes via a reliable Discord source.)

Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI

Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.

www.theatlantic.com

1 3

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Aug 11

Copies just arrived and can’t wait to read *Extraction* by the brilliant @triofrancos.bsky.social

Two copies of a book titled Extraction on a chess table.

1 3 23

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Jun 23

My book *Salvaging Empire* and many other great reads are on sale for 50% off this week if you order from the @cornellupress.bsky.social website with the code 095000 today through Friday, June 27th!

www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...

Salvaging Empire by James J. A. Blair | Paperback | Cornell University Press

Salvaging Empire probes the historical roots and current predicaments of a twenty-first century settler colony seeking to control an uncertain future through resource management and environmental scie...

www.cornellpress.cornell.edu

3 6

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Jun 16

Such a great album!

Mary Halvorson @maryhalvorson.bsky.social · Jun 13

It’s finally About Ghosts release day! I’m so excited to be sharing this music with you.

Nonesuch Records @nonesuch.com · Jun 13

@maryhalvorson.bsky.social's new album, 'About Ghosts'—performed with her Amaryllis sextet and special guests Immanuel Wilkins and Brian Settles and produced by Deerhoof's John Dieterich—is out now! You can get it and hear it at maryhalvorson.lnk.to/AboutGhosts

2

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Jun 6

If you’re interested in the history of how the first solar project approved by the Bureau of Land Management, and the California Energy Commission ended up not getting built, and how the largest solar project in the USA got built on farmland instead. This paper is for you. #EnergySky #GreenSky☀️🔌💡

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Jun 4

New paper! Sunrise at the Salton Sea: environmental justice, land use change, and hydrosocial dynamics of solar energy transitions in the Imperial Valley, California. ☀️🔌💡 #solarpower #justtransition #energysky #greensky link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Sunrise at the Salton Sea: environmental justice, land use change, and hydrosocial dynamics of solar energy transitions in the Imperial Valley, California - Sustainability Science

California's Imperial Valley, with lithium-rich geothermal brines, extensive flat agricultural fields with abundant desert sunshine, and access to transmission lines, is a leading case to explore inte...

link.springer.com

1 9 31

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Jun 5

Here's the updated share link to access our Sustainability Science article: rdcu.be/epvQW

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Jun 4

Check out our new peer-reviewed article published in Sustainability Science on solar energy development near the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley, California!

Grateful to collaborate with brilliant colleagues @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social and @alidacantor.bsky.social

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Jun 4

New paper! Sunrise at the Salton Sea: environmental justice, land use change, and hydrosocial dynamics of solar energy transitions in the Imperial Valley, California. ☀️🔌💡 #solarpower #justtransition #energysky #greensky link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Sunrise at the Salton Sea: environmental justice, land use change, and hydrosocial dynamics of solar energy transitions in the Imperial Valley, California - Sustainability Science

California's Imperial Valley, with lithium-rich geothermal brines, extensive flat agricultural fields with abundant desert sunshine, and access to transmission lines, is a leading case to explore inte...

link.springer.com

3 12

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Jun 4

How do we rectify the imbalance between green energy minerals and water? We met closer to home with Dr. James J. A. Blair, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Cal Poly Pomona, who has done research and collaboration on lithium mining in both the Salton Sea and Chile. In a recent paper he and his co-authors advocate for a framework of community engagement and consultation. Inevitable environmental degradation can be addressed through the implementation of community benefits agreements to establish a just water-energy transition.

1 6

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · May 30

Thanks for sharing.

1

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · May 30

Is the list of projects available?

2 6

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Alida Cantor @alidacantor.bsky.social · May 9

Our research funding may be cancelled, but I am glad to share this new pub from our work on water, energy, and environmental justice! We created a lesson plan (open access!) with teaching ideas for high school and undergrad geography classes. #geosky @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social @jjablair.bsky.social

Unseen Connections: A StoryMap Exploring Case Studies in Water-Energy Transitions and Environmental Justice

Published in The Geography Teacher (Ahead of Print, 2025)

www.tandfonline.com

15 39

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Apr 18

Great news, congrats!

1

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Apr 10

Happy birthday!!!

1

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Mar 28

Lithium Valley specific plan for Imperial County extended public comment through May 5. #LithiumValley #SaltonSea #ValleUnido 🏜️🔋🔌💡
imperialcounty.org/lvsp/

LV Specific Plan - Imperial County

Lithium Valley Specific Plan DraftPosted February 7, 2025 Comments will be accepted until May 5, 2025 at 5:00pm PST Lithium Valley Specific Plan DraftLithium Valley Specific Plan Executive Summary - E...

imperialcounty.org

3 4

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Mar 18

Our collaborators at GAIA have a new publication on battery recycling. 🪫♻️🔌💡 #EnergySky #GreenSky #CircularEconomy #JustTransition
www.no-burn.org/resources/qa...

Q&A: Electronic Vehicles Battery Recycling - GAIA

This GAIA publication answers key questions about what happens to EV batteries after use, the challenges of current recycling technologies, and the solutions needed for a truly circular system. Learn ...

www.no-burn.org

1 5 14

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Gabriela Cabaña @gcabana.bsky.social · Mar 6

I'll be speaking here tonight about our report "Green sacrifice zones in Chile? Threats and risks of mining and energy expansion in the territories and ecosystems of the Atacama Desert"

Join here: ucdavis.zoom.us/j/9908011884...

@ffontecillag.bsky.social

5 12

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Thea Riofrancos @triofrancos.bsky.social · Mar 3

Why are minerals so central to geopolitics? How green are electric cars? Why is anti-mining protest increasing? Can the inequalities of the global economy be transformed?

I tackle these topics in my book EXTRACTION: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism

👀 September 2025 @wwnorton.bsky.social

52 280 1K

James J. A. Blair @jjablair.bsky.social · Mar 3

Very exciting and nice cover! Can’t wait!

1 2

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Julian Lucas @jcljules.bsky.social · Feb 24

I dove to the wreck of Brazil’s last slave ship—and wrote about the global network of maritime archaeologists excavating the Middle Passage www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Dredging Up the Ghostly Secrets of Slave Ships

A global network of maritime archeologists is excavating slave shipwrecks—and reconnecting Black communities to the deep.

www.newyorker.com

7 33 110

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Maru García @marugarcia.bsky.social · Feb 23

Boiling rocks 1. Soil pellets mosaics.

Boiling Rocks 1 is a series of mosaics featuring compressed pellets made of contaminated soil collected by community scientists in their own yards. Spectrometer.

a. Zeolite remediation

1 4

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Dustin Mulvaney @dustinmulvaney.bsky.social · Feb 11

The future of Lithium Valley. 🔋🔌💡
www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb... #SaltonSea #LithiumValley #ValleUnido

The future of Lithium Valley

The race to extract lithium continues, but a federal spending freeze could threaten a $1 billion loan. Plus, how environmental advocates in the Imperial Valley are continuing to fight for protections.

www.kpbs.org

1 7 30

Reposted by James J. A. Blair

Inside Climate News @insideclimatenews.org · Feb 1

In the aftermath of the battery plant fire in California, researchers find evidence of heavy metals in the soil and residents describe experiences of sore throats. The energy storage industry insists that this incident is an extreme outlier.

Moss Landing Battery Fire Leads to Health Fears, Evidence of Contamination and Concerns About Overreaction - Inside Climate News

Residents describe experiences of sore throats and other symptoms. The energy storage industry insists that this incident is an extreme outlier.

insideclimatenews.org

3 16 37