The Energy Department has awarded NuScale Power LLC a project to develop and market small modular reactors in the U.S. as part of efforts to further the government’s clean energy initiatives.

DOE will share half of the total project costs with industry partners to design, certify and sell these reactors under a five-year agreement, the department said Thursday.

“Small modular reactors represent a new generation of safe, reliable, low-carbon nuclear energy technology and provide a strong opportunity for America to lead this emerging global industry,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

NuScale will use the investment to obtain design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and begin operations in 2025.

DOE wants the reactors to be built in states such as Oregon, California, Idaho, Washington, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, Texas and Maryland.

The department and NuScale have yet to negotiate the total project cost, derived from the previous $452 million Small Modular Reactor Licensing Technical Support program of the DOE.