The ultimate success of the Musk complex of companies is important to the clean-energy industry and to society. Both the auto and energy sectors are dominated by well-financed incumbents, steeped in their own histories, with a stake in maintaining the status quo. A competitive threat from a rising contender will prompt them to change their ways much more quickly and completely than the threat of government action or public protest ever would. Certainly, Tesla is that contender in the automotive sector. And in the power industry, after the flame out of SunEdison, SolarCity is as close as it gets.