[inglor_cz]

"rather then picking an isolated area and running an extension of high voltage lines out to them."

Does not this usually mean extending/upgrading roads and other infrastructure as well?

IDK how this works in the US, but in most of Europe, a "linear" project like this, which crosses multiple jurisdictions, usually runs into more resistance, not less. The multitude of people and special interests along the line compounds.

In some places, special legislation has been enacted that exempts such linear projects from detailed review and opposition, otherwise pipelines, grid upgrades etc. would stall for decades in courts.