New Hampshire has become the latest US state to open the door to the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the coming years following legislation permitting utility companies to operate nuclear plants.

An agreement to allow the rollout of SMRs in the state was agreed by state lawmakers in New Hampshire in early May. State representative Michael Vose, a Republican, said it positioned the state to develop the technology in the following decade.

“This sends a clear message across the country, perhaps across the world, that New Hampshire is ready for business in the future for nuclear technology including the creation of jobs,” Vose said.