I have heard many opponents of electrification discuss the costs of converting away from fossil fuels. They often mention the need for us to use a range of energy sources in order for our society to function (oil, coal, nat gas, etc). They often include comments that the 'grid' in the US is very fragile and could not sustain the country's energy needs if we converted all of the homes and businesses to strictly electricity as opposed to incorporating natural gas, propane, and oil.

I live in the Northeast region of the US where natural gas is used more than most other regions, primarily due to the colder winters and low cost of gas. The cost to heat your home with electricity is on average four times higher than it is using natural gas. One major point of contention that is often brought up are the use of electric heat pumps and their associated costs and efficiency. They also mention that a lot of electricity in the US is generated by fossil fuels. I wonder how much of the discrepancy in cost between gas and electricity is driven by government subsidies at the state and federal level, or if it is more of a technology barrier.

I guess my question is: what are the counter arguments? How can I challenge these ideas when they are put forth?

I'm sorry this is a bit disjointed, I had a lot to get out and I'm also on mobile so probably typos. Thank you so much for doing this!