Up until very recently, fossil fuel was cheap and there was little incentive to invest in other resources such as wind or solar. Furthermore, there was relative

Up until very recently, fossil fuel was cheap and there was little incentive to invest in other resources such as wind or solar. Furthermore, there was relatively little political incentive to avoid fossil fuels. Both of these things have changed and large amounts of money have subsequently been invested in renewable energy sources, making them cheaper (mass-produced) and more reliable (better technology). If you were to re-build the town today, wind farms and battery storage may well be the most economic choice, but to switch to wind, it not only has to be cheaper (and more environmentally friendly) but also so much cheaper that the initial investment costs are returned in a reasonably timeframe.