In the context of the original article, its because regulatory capture of the entire energy industry in e.g. Wyoming (the "Cowboy State" of the Cowboy State Dai

In the context of the original article, its because regulatory capture of the entire energy industry in e.g. Wyoming (the "Cowboy State" of the Cowboy State Daily) set renewables back a decade or more. I'm 100% certain that nuclear would meet similar resistance, even if the uranium necessary would be mined in Wyoming. The coal and gas industry lobbied hard for a higher per/MW excise tax on renewable energy in Wyoming, which largely prevented more widespread wind power development in the late '00s. Its only now that renewables have remained dominant over coal and gas that you're seeing more wind projects, and even then, its a constant battle to keep the state legislature from taxing those into cancellation.