There are a lot of policies put in place that affect the energy markets that elected leaders are heavily involved in. For instance, there are production tax cre

There are a lot of policies put in place that affect the energy markets that elected leaders are heavily involved in. For instance, there are production tax credits for wind. There are incentives for rooftop solar. There is talk of a carbon tax or cap and trade. There are debates about whether or not nuclear should be counted for or against clean energy targets. In the 1970s, there was massive legislation (the clean air act) that increased the costs of coal dramatically. These all greatly influence the mix of energy that gets built and are very tied to consumer preferences (if a little indirectly).