They are grid-wide plants, which don’t need to be near large population centres. Sierra Madres/Rockies offer great elevation gradients in West TX, if one would want to keep it in the state.
This is a consideration but I don’t think it’s the real reason we don’t consider these plants.
I think this is more likely it. NIMBY is a plausible explanation for both the delays in building these plants and NPPs. Not to mention the guaranteed opposition to whoever suggests them as a politician.
This is a consideration but I don’t think it’s the real reason we don’t consider these plants.