Tennessee, United Kingdom announce nuclear fusion partnership

NASHVILLE — Tennessee, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the United Kingdom announced a partnership Monday to accelerate the commercial development of fusion energy. Nuclear fusion is a cleaner, safer energy alternative to its cousin, nuclear fission, the process mostly commonly associated with nuclear power. The technology is currently limited to laboratories and has yet to be scaled at an industrial level. But experts say that, if achieved, the process has the potential to provide virtually limitless amounts of energy. A release says the partnership will strengthen nuclear fusion supply chains between both Tennessee and the United Kingdom. "Fusion is moving out of the laboratory and into the market, and Tennessee is ready-made to lead the way," said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in a release. "Our strong supply chains, skilled workforce, reliable regulatory framework and partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority position our state to make commercial fusion a reality. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the United Kingdom to bring this clean, abundant source of energy to market faster." The partnership also encourages parties to share research and exchange employees with one another, as well as holding joint conferences and forums to "support global fusion sector growth." "Now our expanded partnership with the United Kingdom will bring us even closer to commercial fusion," said U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., in a release. "Energy security is national security, and these advancements ensure a stronger, more secure America and Free World. I'm excited for what our two great nations and industries will accomplish together in our shared fusion future." Earlier this month, Tennessee granted Type One Energy a first-of-its-kind license to operate a nuclear fusion reactor, which the company hopes will be fully operational by 2034.