I play tested the first scenario last night and we plopped it into an area we are all familiar with, which is located in California in the United States. We set the location of the Victor Valley (Victorville, Hesperia and surrounding areas), near Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert. It maintained the remote feel of the original setting and we were able to quickly discuss where the loop would be located along with the cooling towers and other locations mentioned in the scenario.
Nobody really questioned the Loop being run by a combination of government agencies and many of my players were suggesting how different branches would probably be needed to fund something so large and with so many different possible applications.
I think the original game setting is amazing, but Simon's artwork can really be applied to almost anywhere in the world with a bit of work and some discussion with your players. Allowing and encouraging a conversation about the setting really worked in my favor as a game master, as it made the players buy into the world a bit easier by feeling they had a say in things, including building the world.
Also, loved having desert scenery like Joshua Trees along the road to describe, plus a large distribution center where the majestic magnetrine ships would congregate to be off loaded onto smaller trucks for local distribution. We sort of subbed the magnetrines in for a combination of boats and trains, working in the already existing long haul trucks into the background of the scenario to reinforce the transition between the every day and the fantastical.