Governor Bill Lee, TDEC Announce First License for Commercial Fusion

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee joined the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) to announce the issuance of the state's first ever fusion-specific byproduct material license to Type One Energy in preparation for a new commercial fusion project. Tennessee is the first state in the nation to issue a license under a new regulatory framework specifically for nuclear fusion machines.

Gov. Lee was joined by leaders from Type One Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the announcement at the annual meeting of the Organization of Agreement States (OAS) held in Nashville. OAS is the scientific and professional organization of state radiation control directors.

"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 Gov. 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."
When the Nuclear Regulatory Commission delegated regulation of fusion energy production to the states, TDEC's Division of Radiological Health took the lead in creating a first-of-its-kind licensing program for fusion machines and fusion-related activities.

"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."

Type One Energy and the TVA worked closely with TDEC to prepare the application and submit plans. The Knoxville-based company intends to break ground on the first phase of Project Infinity at TVA's Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton, Tenn., this year, and expects a full startup by 2034.

"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 how to ensure 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."

Type One Energy's commercial site will function as a fusion development campus through projects between the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TVA, and the University of Tennessee. Type One's Infinity Two is forecast to be a 400 MWe fusion power plant using stellarator technology.

Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more light atomic nuclei combine to form a single, heavier nucleus. This clean process releases large amounts of energy and is the same reaction that powers the sun and other stars.

A fusion machine is defined as any machine capable of:

• Transforming atomic nuclei, through fusion processes, into different elements, isotopes, or other particles; and
• Directly capturing and using the resultant products, including particles, heat, or other electromagnetic radiation.