Published: August 1, 2025 |

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Washington-based fusion energy company Helion Energy has commenced construction on Orion, nation’s first commercial nuclear fusion power plant, cementing the state’s status as a clean energy innovation hub. The facility will be located in Chelan County, Washington. The site was selected due to its proximity to existing power transmission infrastructure and its decades-long legacy of energy innovation.

The revolutionary construction follows Helion’s record-breaking power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft in 2023. Under the agreement, Helion will supply at least 50 megawatts of power from the Orion plant to Microsoft by 2028. Constellation Energy will serve as the project’s power marketer and will be tasked with feeding electricity into the grid.

“Today is a momentous day — not just for Helion, but for the entire fusion industry — as we unlock a new era of energy independence and industrial rebirth,” said David Kirtley, Helion’s CEO and co-founder.

“We have been singularly focused since the company was established on getting fusion technology ready for commercialization and putting electrons on the grid. Starting site work brings us one step closer to that dream,” added Kirtley.

“Fusion represents an inspiring frontier in the world’s pursuit of clean and abundant power. While the path to commercial fusion is still unfolding, we’re proud to support Helion’s pioneering work here in Washington state as part of our broader commitment to investing in sustainable energy,” said Melanie Nakagawa, chief sustainability officer and corporate vice president for Energy, Connectivity, and Sustainability at Microsoft.

The Orion Nuclear fusion power plant is being built in Malaga, Washington, on 20 acres leased from the Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD). The project underwent a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) prior to construction. Helion has been engaging actively with state and local stakeholders — government agencies, Tribal Nations, and the community — since 2023 as part of its transparent planning and permitting process. That engagement will continue throughout construction.

The plant is designed to provide 50 megawatts of power with the potential to scale to 100 megawatts in later stages. The first phase includes breaking ground and foundation work, followed by the installation of Helion’s proprietary fusion technologies. Once online, the Orion facility will connect into Washington’s primary power grid, delivering electricity upstream of Microsoft’s data centers.

Helion’s fusion method relies on rapid prototyping and internal innovation. Its seventh-generation prototype, Polaris, is expected to be the first to directly produce electricity from fusion. An earlier prototype, Trenta, was the first privately built fusion device to reach a fuel temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius — a milestone critical to enabling net energy production.

Orion is the first United States fusion power plant to break ground, a record in the commercialization of fusion energy.

With construction underway and grid delivery targeted for 2028, Helion remains on track to deliver fusion power to a commercial customer for the first time

Source: Construction Review

Helion Energy is a developer of a fusion power plant designed to produce clean and virtually limitless electricity. The company offers a proven fusion technology, advanced engineering capabilities, and a focus on scalability, enabling energy providers and infrastructure developers to access sustainable, emission-free power.

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