Tennessee is trying to make it easier for nuclear fusion companies to build facilities to harness this power. The state became the first in the country to create its own regulatory framework specifically for nuclear fusion machines.

Fusion is the process where light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing massive amounts of energy. It is the exact same reaction that powers the sun. Companies are currently racing to build machines that can replicate this process on Earth to create clean, virtually limitless power.

Tennessee already has over 60 years of experience as a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agreement state. Local officials hope these new rules will cement the state’s position as a major hub for nuclear energy growth.

“Tennessee has been named the top state in the nation for nuclear energy industry growth, and for good reason,” said Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner David Salyers. “This latest step supercharges our reputation as the global hub for nuclear innovation and positions us as the most responsive state to new advanced nuclear companies clamoring to call Tennessee home.”

The new rules, officially labeled as Chapter 0400-20-14, set up clear requirements for licensing fusion machines. The state defines a fusion machine as any device that can transform atomic nuclei into different elements or particles, and then directly capture and use the resulting heat, particles, or radiation.

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Bringing Fusion to the Grid

fusion site
A rendering of Type One Energy’s Infinity Two fusion facility; Photo: Type One Energy

One company is already moving forward under these new rules. Type One Energy submitted its plans in January for a commercial site near Oak Ridge that will serve as a fusion development campus, pulling together resources from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the University of Tennessee.

The project will happen in phases at TVA’s Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton, Tennessee. First, Type One Energy plans to launch a prototype called Infinity One and a workforce training center, which should start up in 2029.

After that, Type One Energy is partnering with TVA and AECOM to build Infinity Two. This will be a 400 MWe fusion power plant using stellarator technology. If everything goes according to plan, construction on the power plant could start in 2028.