The first license for a commercial nuclear fusion machine in the U.S. was granted in Tennessee. Knoxville-based energy company, Type One Energy, received the license. Tennessee, of course, is the first state to issue this type of license since the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided to allow states to regulate fusion energy.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) created a brand new licensing program specifically for fusion machines. 

“As the global epicenter of nuclear energy, Tennessee is building the workforce, infrastructure, and regulatory framework needed to lead the next generation of nuclear innovation,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. “By creating a clear path for emerging technologies like fusion, we’re advancing the reliable, abundant American energy we’ll need for generations to come.”

“Issuing this license is a significant milestone that solidifies Tennessee’s reputation as the global hub for nuclear innovation,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “We are proud to develop this groundbreaking regulatory framework for fusion energy that will serve as a model for other states.”

Commercializing Nuclear Fusion

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Type One Energy’s nuclear fusion machine; Photo: Type One Energy

Furthermore, Type One Energy plans to break ground on a project called Project Infinity this year at TVA’s Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton, Tennessee. The company expects to be fully operational by 2034.

Additionally, the site will act as a campus for fusion development. It will bring together the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TVA, and the University of Tennessee. The plan is to build Infinity Two, a 400-megawatt fusion power plant using stellarator technology.

“For the first time, a fusion power plant-specific licensing process has been developed and then used to grant a fusion-specific license to operate a fusion machine, consistent with a national regulatory framework for fusion energy,” said Christofer Mowry, CEO of Type One Energy. “The importance of this milestone cannot be overstated. Tennessee’s licensing process is now the international benchmark for ensuring fusion power plant ‘safety by design’ in a manner that can unlock the compelling economics of this transformational power generation technology. We are grateful and honored to receive this initial fusion machine license for Project Infinity.”