A lot of nails took to seal MR and R's joint coffin.
But for me, it was MR's pandering for coal. As USA went from a wood based energy economy to coal to oil to renewables-efficiency; We need to progress to more efficient energy. Just who in their right mind will pay more for something that they can get at 20% cheaper and with less problems and more versitility.
I'm in need to replace our 37" flatscreen TV (8 yo) which I thought was enornmously more efficient than our 25" tube TV only to discover today's 50" TVs use just a third of the power and cost -50% of the TV it will replace. R's need to get with the times. Get rid of the pollution regulations, and we will still discover that making Money through new technology and efficiency is still be cheaper.
Raise the cost of Energy, temporarily, 5 years increments, by taxes to support emerging technologies, infrastucture, alternative and existing sources, and conservation. Much like airline-passenger taxes paying for airport facilities and air-control.
even dirty coal has a role in Energy Independence just as much as power lines and distributed energy have a place.