The recurring theme of Bitcoins energy usage is important to talk about.
Unfortunately, we don't have the battery technology, and even if we did, it has its limitations. The issue here is that Bitcoin can be the best way to monetise that wasted energy, and people simply don't like that.
I think it can’t be discussed in a vacuum and the energy cost or carbon footprint isn’t the only way to gauge the usefulness of something. Surely their are other industries consuming energy and we don’t condemn them, but consider them essential and ignore their carbon foot print.