We already have pretty good long distance transmission lines (HVDC lines are commonly used today in both remote areas and in undersea lines, there's even a 53 m

We already have pretty good long distance transmission lines (HVDC lines are commonly used today in both remote areas and in undersea lines, there's even a 53 mile long line from SF to Pittsburgh under the Bay). But there's always going to be some point at which it's more economical to build up local power generation along distances. We really don't want to be pumping gigawatts over fire prone areas, for example. We are going to need to figure out how to handle more intense seasonal weather in the south east US. Florida has already done a decent job hardening their transmission lines and making sure their grids can stand up to cat 5 storms (the way they weathered Irma was incredible, compared to Maria in Puerto Rico just weeks later) but transmission lines are easier to replace than generators.