Tennessee has officially become the first state in the nation to issue a fusion-specific byproduct material license, marking a monumental step forward for commercial nuclear fusion.

Governor Bill Lee, alongside leaders from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Type One Energy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), announced the milestone during the annual meeting of the Organization of Agreement States in Nashville.

Following the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s decision to delegate fusion energy regulation to states, TDEC’s Division of Radiological Health developed a pioneering framework. This makes Tennessee the first state to establish a dedicated licensing pathway for fusion machines.

Knoxville-based Type One Energy collaborated closely with TDEC and TVA to secure the license. The company plans to break ground this year on the first phase of Project Infinity at TVA’s Bull Run Energy Complex in Clinton, Tennessee, with a full operational startup anticipated by 2034.

The site will serve as a collaborative fusion development campus involving the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TVA, and the University of Tennessee, ultimately aiming to deploy a 400 MWe stellarator-based fusion power plant.

State leaders emphasize that this groundbreaking framework establishes an international benchmark for safety and innovation, cementing Tennessee’s status as a global leader in next-generation clean energy.