TL:DR - Cal is correct about electricity transmission because Carl did his research before writing.
Since this has come up in both comments and multiple emails from readers, I thought it deserved a blog entry. What I mention in A True History regarding power distribution is (you'll pardon the pun) the current state of technology. As in, real world Earth of 2020, not Cal's world of 1984. (It WAS possible in 1984, just more expensive than it is now.)
HVDC and HVAC actually complement each other. You generate HVAC, and if the distance is less than 400 miles, simply send it. If the distance is MORE than 400 miles, it's cheaper to convert the HVAC to HVDC and send it that way, then convert back to HVAC at the receiving end. You can also generate 50 HZ HVAC at one end, convert it to DC, and when you bring it back to AC, you can make it 60HZ instead.
There are now multiple HVDC lines running more than 1,000 miles long around the world, allowing power to go where it was not possible or cost effective to do so before. Google HVDC vs HVAC. Cal is correct - and now we literally COULD power the US from wind turbines in Kansas. (Also, offshore power is limited to about 20 miles with HVAC - HVDC doesn't have that limitation.)
Oh, and there's no skin effect with HVDC, like there is with HVAC, and massively decreased corona losses.