If we ignore the regressive effects of (eventual) high energy prices (which are significant! a LOT of people are helped by low gas prices. Popular protest under

If we ignore the regressive effects of (eventual) high energy prices (which are significant! a LOT of people are helped by low gas prices. Popular protest understandably occur when governments eliminate deep fuel subsidies)... ...then the long-term monopoly rents being much higher in terms of total revenue is actually good for the environment and maybe good for humanity in absence of something more rational like a carbon tax. It can act like a Carbon Tax, but with the revenue going to Saudi Arabia or Russia (etc). In other words, non-ideal... But does maybe help electric cars in the very long-term (ignoring the near-term damage to existing electric car makers, and assuming we wouldn't be instituting a carbon tax anyway). Much better would be a local carbon tax with revenues redistributed to counteract any regressive impact while also funding transition to alternatives.