Virginia to Host Nation’s First Commercial Fusion Power Plant as Youngkin Hails Milestone in Clean Energy

Virginia will be home to the nation’s first commercial fusion power plant, a project that could position the state as a leader in clean energy innovation, the Washington Post reports.

The groundbreaking initiative was announced Tuesday by Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) and officials from Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a Massachusetts-based company leading efforts to commercialize fusion energy.

The power plant, set to be built in Chesterfield County near Richmond, aims to generate about 400 megawatts of electricity, enough to power roughly 150,000 homes. The ambitious project, if successful, could mark a major step forward in the race for clean, safe, and sustainable energy. CFS plans to finance, build, and operate the plant, which is expected to be operational by the early 2030s.

“This is a historic moment for Virginia and the world at large,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Commonwealth Fusion Systems is not just building a facility; they are pioneering groundbreaking innovation to generate clean, reliable, safe power, and it’s happening right here in Virginia.”

Fusion energy has long been regarded as the “holy grail” of clean energy because it can produce almost limitless power without the hazardous waste associated with nuclear fission. Unlike fission, which splits atomic nuclei, fusion works by combining lighter atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy in the process.

The concept is modeled on the way the sun produces energy, and while it has been pursued for decades, technological challenges have prevented it from becoming commercially viable. Fusion reactions require enormous amounts of heat and pressure to sustain, and until recently, fusion reactors used more energy to achieve the reaction than they produced.

Recent advances, however, have renewed optimism that commercial fusion energy could be achieved within the next decade. CFS has been at the forefront of these developments and plans to first demonstrate the technology at its Sparc facility in Massachusetts before scaling it up for use at the Virginia plant, known as Arc.

The decision to locate the plant in Virginia is being touted as a major economic development win for Governor Youngkin, who is focused on attracting high-profile projects to the state. The facility is expected to bring in “multiple billions” of dollars in investment and create “hundreds and hundreds of jobs,” according to Youngkin.

The site for the project is the James River Industrial Park, a Dominion Energy-owned property about 15 miles south of Richmond. CFS will lease the site, and the power generated will be supplied either directly to customers or into the regional grid.

Youngkin emphasized that the cost of the project will not be borne by customers of Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest electric utility. Instead, the state and Chesterfield County are providing early support, with each contributing about $1 million at the outset. Chesterfield County is also set to provide an additional $10 million in long-term support, and Virginia will exempt equipment used in the plant from sales and use tax.

“I literally had to pinch myself today,” Youngkin said. “This is just another testament to the fact that Virginia is doing all the right things to be the very best place for business.”

The fusion plant project drew bipartisan support at the announcement event in Richmond. While Governor Youngkin has often clashed with Democratic lawmakers over social and economic issues, Democrats joined him to praise the project as a win for all Virginians.

House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) said:

“I don’t think it’s the governor’s win, it’s not the House’s win, it’s not the Senate’s win. It’s our win together.”

Del. Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan Jr. (D-Fairfax), chairman of the House energy subcommittee, announced plans to introduce legislation to recognize fusion as a clean energy source under Virginia’s Clean Economy Act. The Act, passed in 2020, requires Virginia’s utilities to deliver 100% renewable electricity by 2045. Sullivan’s proposed bill would incorporate fusion into the state’s clean energy framework.

“We need to start fitting fusion energy into our code where necessary because fusion energy for years has been theoretical,” Sullivan said. “And now it’s starting to look real, and we need our code to recognize that.”

Governor Youngkin has promoted an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, which supports a diverse range of power sources, including natural gas, solar, small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), and now fusion. The strategy diverges from Virginia’s earlier focus on fully phasing out fossil fuels under the Clean Economy Act.

Youngkin has described fusion energy as being “incredibly safe”, noting that, unlike fission, it does not pose the risk of runaway chain reactions. He explained that “when it’s exposed to air, it turns off”, making it a safer alternative to traditional nuclear energy.

The development of a fusion power plant in Virginia could play a critical role in supporting energy-intensive industries such as data centers and advanced manufacturing, which have driven significant increases in demand for electricity in the state.

While the Virginia project represents a significant milestone, experts remain cautious. Fusion energy has a long history of lofty promises and delayed timelines. Although CFS and other companies have made significant strides, challenges remain in scaling the technology to commercial levels.

If successful, the Arc plant in Chesterfield County would be the first grid-scale fusion plant in the US, capable of delivering electricity directly to the grid. Bob Mumgaard, co-founder and CEO of CFS, called it a landmark project.

“In the early 2030s, all eyes will be on the Richmond region, and more specifically Chesterfield County, as the birthplace of commercial fusion energy,” Mumgaard said. “Virginia emerged as a strong partner as they look to implement innovative solutions for both reliable electricity and clean forms of power.”

Despite the optimism, fusion still faces hurdles. For instance, energy systems using fusion have traditionally required more energy to sustain the reaction than they can produce. While CFS believes its Sparc reactor in Massachusetts will overcome this challenge, proof of concept is still pending.

Another concern is competition. Countries such as China and the United Kingdom are also racing to develop fusion power technology, which could affect the US’s global competitiveness.

With construction expected to be completed in the early 2030s, the Chesterfield fusion power plant represents a long-term investment in the future of clean energy. If successful, it could become a cornerstone of Virginia’s energy strategy and serve as a blueprint for similar projects around the world.

For Governor Youngkin, the project is a high-profile achievement as he prepares to leave office in 2026. While critics have questioned his approach to energy policy, Youngkin has made it clear that he sees fusion as part of a broader plan to meet the growing demand for clean, reliable power.

“Virginia needs the power, and we are racing to provide it because I want us to be able to take as much economic development as we can,” Youngkin said.