A new wave of smaller, cheaper nuclear reactors is driving U.S. states to aggressively compete for investment in the nuclear industry. As traditional energy sources face challenges, advanced nuclear technology is being considered a viable alternative, especially for states like Michigan, which is at the forefront of developing this technology. Companies are racing to build advanced small modular reactors (SMRs), and the U.S. Department of Energy has renewed funding opportunities to support this initiative, now focusing more on technical merit than community criteria. However, some experts caution against rapidly adopting new types of nuclear plants without thorough evaluations of their feasibility and safety.