Already Alabama exports about one-third of its electricity. California is the exact opposite, effectively importing about all of the electricity exported from Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico, not to mention Canada and Mexico. This interconnected region has been forced to increase exports to California this winter, causing higher prices for local customers. Closer to home, Florida is an importer of electricity from two low cost states, Alabama and South Carolina. The push to restructure arises from increasing energy scarcity and rising prices.
Energy comes in various raw forms.
Oil and coal remain the basic energy sources but they cause pollution, a costly local problem. There are ample supplies of coal, the main fuel for electricity generation, but pollution concerns may limit coal burning or require very expensive scrubbing. Either way, get ready for higher electricity bills. As oil is depleted over the coming decades, its price will rise exponentially. Natural gas is a popular fossil fuel because it burns cleanly.