At a presentation at Richmond’s Patrick Henry Building, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin emphasized the historical significance of the project.

“Commonwealth Fusion Systems plans on building the world’s first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant in the world, full stop, and it’s going to be right here in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Youngkin said during the presentation.

Unlike traditional nuclear power plants that rely on fission, fusion replicates the energy-producing process of the sun, offering a cleaner and more sustainable power source. This venture signals Virginia’s growing role in shaping the future of energy solutions, particularly as the state’s energy demands are surging due to the rapid growth of data centers.

The project, which will use a donut-shaped device called a tokamak to fuse hydrogen isotopes under extreme heat and pressure, promises a number of environmental benefits. Fusion creates energy without producing long-lived radioactive waste and poses no risk of meltdown.

“One of the big advantages of fusion is that it doesn’t produce any long-lived waste material and there’s no risk of some kind of meltdown event,” Alex Creely, CFS director of tokamak operations explained during the event. “It’s a very safe energy source – something that you can live right next to and feel very comfortable with.”

To secure the project, Virginia offered $1 million from both the state and Chesterfield County, along with a sales and use tax exemption for the plant’s equipment. The company, with its SPARC demonstration plant currently under construction in Massachusetts, is expected to generate billions in economic development and create hundreds of jobs.

The project, however, still requires several state permits, including a radioactive materials license from the Virginia Department of Health and a certificate of convenience and public necessity from the State Corporation Commission. Additional approvals may include an air permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for backup generators during emergencies and potentially a stormwater discharge permit.

Building of a nuclear fusion power plant in Virginia garners support from key stakeholders

The project has garnered support from key stakeholders, including Dominion Energy and the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA), which allows fusion energy to be defined as “zero-carbon electricity.” Democratic Virginia State Delegate Rip Sullivan plans to introduce legislation to further solidify fusion energy’s place in the state’s clean energy strategy.

“Since the VCEA’s passage, we have succeeded in driving energy innovation in the commonwealth, and today marks another important step in what has been a remarkably successful effort – a step that would not have been possible had Virginia declined or abandoned the opportunity and responsibility it took to lead in clean energy,” Sullivan said.

Melissa Thomas, a senior organizer with Mothers Out Front, an environmental advocacy group, expressed support for the project, noting its potential as a “promising solution” to rising energy demands in Virginia, particularly from data centers. However, Thomas also raised questions about the plant’s potential reliance on gas-powered backup systems.