Why are there more atomic reactors in eastern USA?

Answer 1

There are at least two reasons for this. Other people might add more

First, since there have been more people in the eastern USA than in the West, there is a higher demand for power in the East. This means more power plants of all kinds.

Second, about two thirds of the power generated from a nuclear plant is dumped into the environment as waste heat. This implies the need for huge heat sinks, and water is the best coolant for that purpose. So nuclear plants are nearly always sited next to lakes, rivers, or the ocean. The eastern half of the USA is much wetter than the west, so it has a good deal more water, and the water in lakes and rivers is more reliably available. The west coast also has very few inlets compared to the east coast and Gulf coast, so there are a lot more opportunities for coastal plants.

Answer 2

There are more nuclear reactors in the eastern USA due to historical factors such as the location of early nuclear research facilities, population density, and available cooling water sources. Additionally, energy demands are higher in the eastern USA, leading to a greater need for nuclear power plants in this region.