The great electrification crusade is getting complicated. The first emissions-free day has yet to dawn but the costs and contradictions of getting there are starting to accumulate.

The end result of electrification is that demand for electricity goes up. Like, d’uh. Growing competition for an essential product has a way of causing friction. In this case, big friction. As in pitting friends against friends. Causing rifts between allies. Even bringing down governments. Norway’s governing coalition collapsed in January on that very issue.