You're right on the national level, but we can't put all our energy creation in the US midwest and just "transport" it somehow 1,000 miles to urban centers.
The US NE Corridor has almost zero empty land, but consumes a major portion of the energy.
Why is this unfortunate? Urban living shrinks each person’s land and energy footprint by packing people efficiently, cutting carbon emissions through public transit and walkability, preserving open natural spaces, and enabling more efficient infrastructure.
It's true that concentrating populations in cities increases housing demand, but that doesn't automatically mean costs must rise—housing prices are driven by supply constraints and policy choices, not just demand. If cities allow enough new construction and implement policies like inclusionary zoning or affordable housing mandates, supply can keep pace with demand, preventing price spikes and even lowering costs per unit over time. So, while demand goes up, smart urban planning can ensure affordability without conceding that costs inevitably follow.
My own country every m² is valuable.