Why did renewables become so cheap so fast?
All true, but I think they&#x27;re missing the real issue here.  Renewables (esp. solar and wind) are, yes, dropping in cost exponentially, and this means they are currently zooming past fossil fuels in terms of affordability.  There&#x27;s an issue in regards to batteries, but that also seems to be on a learning curve that makes it better every year, so that won&#x27;t buy fossil fuels much more time.<p>Now, instead of rooting for that change, we can think about the actual consequences.  It&#x27;s inevitable; fossil fuels are on the way out.  What does that mean, besides lower carbon?<p>It means that countries which rely on fossil fuels for their economy, are going to see the same kind of crushing economic decline that, say, the UK coal industry has.<p>What do you suppose happens when, for example, Saudi Arabia can no longer feed itself?  It just peacefully and gently starves to death?<p>To be clear, I&#x27;m not saying we should somehow try to prevent fossil fuels exiting the scene.  The change in energy sources to lower-carbon ones is an old one, and there&#x27;s no way to stop it, nor should we try.  Wood gave way to coal and then oil and then natural gas, and the process will continue with zero-carbon sources like photovoltaics.  That&#x27;s a bullet that&#x27;s already been fired, and there&#x27;s no way to stuff it back inside the barrel of the gun.<p>But, do we really have a plan for the consequences, not only in Saudi Arabia but also every other nation that&#x27;s dependent on oil?  Hint: we do not.