Type One Energy and TVA file Tennessee’s first fusion license testing state rules for commercial stellarators

Type One Energy’s Infinity Two power plant at TVA’s Bull Run site

(Image courtesy of Type One Energy)

Type One Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority submitted the first commercial fusion power plant license application under a regulatory framework that treats the technology more like particle accelerators than nuclear reactors. The January 29, 2026 filing with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation marks a key test for fusion under state byproduct material licensing. This pathway came after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission unanimously agreed in 2023 that fusion’s safety profile warranted lighter-touch regulation than fission plants.​

Project Infinity will proceed in phases at TVA’s retired Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton. Infinity One, a stellarator prototype and workforce training center operated by Type One Energy, targets commissioning in 2029. TVA has issued a Letter of Intent for Infinity Two, a 350 MWe commercial stellarator power plant, with construction contingent on final development milestones and regulatory approvals beginning in 2028. The stellarator design uses external magnetic coils rather than plasma current to confine fusion reactions. It offers steady-state operation advantages for grid-scale deployment.​

The byproduct material license application represents 22 months of collaboration between Type One, TVA, and TDEC to establish licensing precedents for fusion facilities. Tennessee’s regulatory framework could become a template for other states as fusion companies approach commercialization. States participating in the NRC’s Agreement State Program can regulate byproduct materials, the same classification now covering fusion machines. This gives them authority over aspects of fusion plant licensing that would otherwise fall to federal jurisdiction.​

“We’ve been working closely together since February 2024, sharing relevant design information and knowledge that is essential to establish the appropriate licensing conditions for a fusion power plant,” said Type One CEO Christofer Mowry. The application positions Tennessee as a proving ground for safety-by-design fusion regulation.​

TVA, the nation’s largest public power provider serving more than 10 million people across seven southeastern states, brings institutional nuclear experience and grid integration expertise to the partnership. The utility operates a diverse generation portfolio including nuclear, hydro, and emerging technologies, making fusion a strategic fit for long-term baseload planning. TVA President Don Moul emphasized fusion’s potential to strengthen U.S. energy security through reliable, low-carbon power.​

Bull Run’s transformation from a retired coal plant to a fusion development site reflects broader energy transition trends. The 865 MW coal facility shut down in December 2023, and its former footprint now anchors Tennessee’s ambitions as a nuclear innovation hub. TDEC Commissioner David Salyers described the licensing filing as accelerating the state’s reputation in advanced nuclear technologies.​

If approvals proceed on schedule, Infinity Two could become one of the first grid-connected stellarator power plants globally, demonstrating commercial viability for a fusion approach that differs from the tokamak designs dominating international projects like ITER.

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