Note: said society is preindustrial and has ample access to flowing water, but not fossil fuels or radioactive deposits. It also has access to mountain hot springs, which I thought could also be used as “batteries” during times when streams freeze. This last point is what set him off.
He also really hates wind turbines.
The griffins they partner with could easily be a source of otherwise exotic plants and crops. “I was on a long sonder, saw this big ass stick grass, think it’s good for that plumbing thing of yours?”
I posted it a while ago in a thread about the wonders of bamboo, but China made amazing use of it. https://csegrecorder.com/articles/view/ancient-chinese-drilling
Damn Victorians brought back dozens of poisonous plants that instantly escaped their gardens but couldn’t manage to naturalize the coolest ones…
That is an awesome idea that I might just have to steal.