As the reliability of the electric grid drops people will install local power sources. In the 1980s I didn't know anyone who had a whole house generator. Now they are common in New Hampshire, and a wanted feature in homes.
We may well end up with a distributed power solution, and it will probably generate way more pollution than the coal power plants did when all the local backyard diesel, propane, and natural gas generators fire up.
Fossil fuels generates large employment and incomes in flyover country.
https://www.energy.gov/downloads/us-energy-and-employment-report
The market for petroleum products is huge. Starting in 2020 US will be a net exporter of energy. Steel for new plants, pipelines, wells, and ships for exporting. Wall Street big holder of Energy equities.
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/PET_SUM_SND_D_NUS_MBBLPD_M_CUR.htm
Please make this an issue in 2020 campaign, I beg the left, please!!!!!
We have been house hunting there and easily half the houses you see on the realty pages, when they show the basement, shows the electrical panel and right next to is is a full house generator hook up.
I also see the nor'easters playing a role in it.
We went to visit my son for Thanksgiving a few years ago and a nor'easter hit on the Tues/Wed before. Knocked the power out for almost a week where he was. And when we went outside to look around, the sound of generators running was everywhere.