This is anticipating the arguments in front of the planning boards

Nope, it's a poor attempt at playing Devil's advocate.

Your starting point of assuming that your audience doesn't know that extreme power consumption inevitably leads to increased pollution is condescending at best.

Especially in a country where the federal government has made renewable energy all but illegal while promoting fossil fuels at every opportunity.

Granted, that country is also the world's number one importer, exporter, producer, and sponsor of disinformation, but STILL..