Helion, a Washington-based fusion energy company, said it has become 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 milestone for the company, confirming Helion has the facilities, trained personnel and safety programs in place at its Orion facility in Malaga, Washington, to meet the safety standards required for fusion operations.
“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 Helion CEO David Kirtley in a statement. “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.”
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 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.
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.
