The U.S. aims to replace retiring coal plants with small modular reactors (SMRs), maintaining secure local employment in coal communities while reaching its climate goals.

SMRs offer flexible power output in a small footprint, making them suitable replacements for coal plants. Benefits include grid reliability, job transferability, increased employment, and reduced construction costs.

Challenges involve aligning retirement and operation dates, licensing uncertainties, retraining needs, equipment reutilisation, and state laws. Recent policies support tax credits, funding, and lifted bans on nuclear development.

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