TVA gets nation's first approval to potentially build and operate small modular nuclear reactors

TVA applied for and received the initial permit to build a small modular reactor at a specific location, with no firm plans nor funding to actually build the plant.  As a large operator of nuclear power plants, planning for the next generation of reactors seems logical but odd that they are this far ahead of any implementation?  Also some interesting changes on the requirements for emergency response planning, I am not an expert on this but does seem like some changes to very old rules.  Seems to be positive for the SMR manufacturers even though they are many years away at TVA.