Helion, a Washington-based fusion energy company, today became the first company in the world to secure the regulatory licenses needed for a fusion power plant, following receipt of two licenses from the Washington Department of Health (DOH). The licenses – Radioactive Materials License (RML) and Radioactive Air Emissions License (RAEL) – mark a major milestone for the company, confirming Helion has the facilities, trained personnel, and safety programs in place at its Orion facility in Malaga, WA, to meet the rigorous safety standards required for fusion operations.
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The Orion assembly building in Malaga, WA. With two new Washington State Department of Health licenses and a transmission interconnection agreement secured, Helion becomes the first company in the world to have the regulatory approvals needed to build and operate a fusion power plant.
These licenses demonstrate Helion’s 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’s first fusion power plant.
“We 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,” said David Kirtley, CEO of Helion Energy. “We have a long history of working with the DOH to license our previous fusion activities. Today’s announcement represents the rigor of that work and opens the door for practical, commercial, safe fusion power.”
The Washington DOH is the licensing body for fusion power in the state, following the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s 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, reflects fusion’s fundamentally different safety profile and enables a right-sized path to deployment. Washington’s pathway was strengthened by bipartisan state legislation in 2024 and 2025 – HB 1924 and HB 1018 – that clarified fusion’s role in clean energy policy and provided permitting certainty for fusion power plants.
“We’re 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,” said Jill Wood, director of the Department of Health’s Office of Radiation.
Orion’s 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’s deep community engagement efforts in Chelan County – where Malaga is located – dating back to 2023, including more than 10 public meetings to discuss the project. The company has also secured a transmission interconnection agreement with Chelan County Public Utility District – the first such agreement for a fusion power plant – marking another key step toward delivering electricity to the grid.
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.
About Helion
Helion is a fusion energy company focused on generating zero-carbon electricity from fusion. Its mission is to build the world’s first fusion power plant, enabling a future with unlimited clean electricity. To keep up with the latest progress, follow Helion on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
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