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<\/a><\/a>These licenses demonstrate Helion\u2019s commitment to engaging early and often with state regulators to ensure compliance with system requirements. They enable Helion to continue building on the site of Orion, the world\u2019s first fusion power plant.<\/p>
\u201cWe are extremely proud to be granted these licenses from the Washington DOH, making us the first company in the world with the regulatory approvals in place for fusion power plant operations,\u201d said David Kirtley, CEO of Helion Energy. \u201cWe have a long history of working with the DOH to license our previous fusion activities. Today\u2019s announcement represents the rigor of that work and opens the door for practical, commercial, safe fusion power.\u201d<\/p>
The Washington DOH is the licensing body for fusion power in the state, following the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission\u2019s decision to regulate fusion under the byproduct material framework, alongside particle accelerators and hospitals, rather than like nuclear fission reactors. This distinction, codified by Congress in the bipartisan ADVANCE Act of 2024<\/a>, reflects fusion\u2019s fundamentally different safety profile and enables a right-sized path to deployment. Washington\u2019s pathway was strengthened by bipartisan state legislation in 2024 and 2025 \u2013 HB 1924<\/a> and HB 1018<\/a> \u2013 that clarified fusion\u2019s role in clean energy policy and provided permitting certainty for fusion power plants.<\/p> \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to partner with a world-class company like Helion. Leading radioactive regulatory oversight for the fusion industry in Washington state is an honor and is essential to protecting public health while advancing clean energy,\u201d said Jill Wood, director of the Department of Health\u2019s Office of Radiation.<\/p> Orion\u2019s RAEL and RML are the latest in a group of key permits and licenses required for Helion to build and operate its first fusion power plant in Washington state. Their receipt follows Helion\u2019s deep community engagement efforts in Chelan County \u2013 where Malaga is located \u2013 dating back to 2023, including more than 10 public meetings to discuss the project. The company is also working toward a transmission interconnection agreement with Chelan County Public Utility District, in what will be the first such agreement for a fusion power plant, marking another key step toward delivering electricity to the grid.<\/p> Helion continues to build Orion in Malaga, with the assembly and office building construction complete. Now, the company can proceed with work on the generator building, for which initial earthwork began in the spring of 2026.<\/p> About Helion<\/b><\/p> Helion is a fusion energy company focused on generating zero-carbon electricity from fusion. Its mission is to build the world\u2019s first fusion power plant, enabling a future with unlimited clean electricity. To keep up with the latest progress, follow Helion on LinkedIn<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and X<\/a>.<\/p>