Sure, WA is an outlier because of its geography (more consistent rivers), but other states that are very similar to each other have huge differences. So it’s not something that’s easily explained by geography or local politics.
I see two possibilities here:
US stagnates at some percent because the bottom states refuse to change
bottom states follow their neighbors’ lead and renewable adoption accelerates
ultimately, it’s going to be economic, if for example, nuclear becomes the cheapest form of energy, it’s going to become really popular, spread rapidly, develop quickly, become cheaper, safer, and eventually any state with some amount of sense in it is going to switch over, regardless of political status.
It just doesn’t make sense to support coal when energy is cheaper and safer coming from another source.
The only other way it would go is federal regulation or subsidies.
In my area, the lack of nuclear has been largely due to FUD. I’m in Utah, and every time nuclear has been suggested, the public has shot it down, despite having the perfect geography for it. The plant could be placed on the west side of the mountains where few people live, so even if there’s a disaster, it’s not going to impact the populated valley, and there’s a ton of space in the desert to bury the waste. Also, coal ash is more radioactive than nuclear waste, yet we have coal plants here.
Sure, WA is an outlier because of its geography (more consistent rivers), but other states that are very similar to each other have huge differences. So it’s not something that’s easily explained by geography or local politics.
I see two possibilities here:
ultimately, it’s going to be economic, if for example, nuclear becomes the cheapest form of energy, it’s going to become really popular, spread rapidly, develop quickly, become cheaper, safer, and eventually any state with some amount of sense in it is going to switch over, regardless of political status.
It just doesn’t make sense to support coal when energy is cheaper and safer coming from another source.
The only other way it would go is federal regulation or subsidies.
In my area, the lack of nuclear has been largely due to FUD. I’m in Utah, and every time nuclear has been suggested, the public has shot it down, despite having the perfect geography for it. The plant could be placed on the west side of the mountains where few people live, so even if there’s a disaster, it’s not going to impact the populated valley, and there’s a ton of space in the desert to bury the waste. Also, coal ash is more radioactive than nuclear waste, yet we have coal plants here.