Fusion is currently being researched as a method to eventually power Washington homes, businesses, and communities. Fusion releases massive amounts of energy that could generate large-scale electricity. If successfully developed, fusion could provide a clean, reliable, and nearly limitless source of power for future generations.
Washington State is committed to clean energy and reducing fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the electricity in Washington is already generated through renewable sources like hydro and wind. These sources are crucial but are not always reliable because they’re dependent on weather conditions and the season of the year.
As Washington continues to electrify transportation and other sectors, statewide demand for electricity is projected to increase. Fusion has the potential to contribute clean energy to support this increase.
What is Fusion?
Fusion is a process where smaller/lighter atoms like hydrogen (and sometimes helium) are converted into larger/heavier atoms. This process releases massive amounts of energy that could be used to generate clean electricity. Fusion naturally occurs in the core of every star and releases enough energy to power a star for billions of years.
Fusion
Fusion energy is safe because it cannot sustain a runaway chain reaction like fission and does not create long-lived radioactive waste. If the precise conditions required for fusion are disrupted or not met, the reaction stops instantly, eliminating the risk of meltdown.
Any fusion fuel that uses Deuterium will produce tritium as a by-product. A portion of the deuterium will fuse with itself when energy is applied, producing tritium. This is unavoidable due to the physics involved.
Fusion vs. Fission
Fusion is not the same as fission. Fission is a process where larger, radioactive atoms are broken apart into smaller atoms. Large amounts of energy and radiation are released in this process. Historically, fission was used in the development of nuclear weapons.
The Columbia Generating Station in Washington uses nuclear fission to produce enough electricity to meet the annual needs of about one million homes. To learn more about Columbia Generating Station, visit this article on our website.
Fission
Benefits of Fusion
- Safety. Fusion reactions are not self-sustaining. If there’s an error, the reaction stops instantly. There’s no risk of meltdown or chain reaction.
- No greenhouse gas emissions. There is no carbon dioxide released during fusion.
- Reliability. Unlike hydro and wind, fusion does not depend on the weather or season. Fusion devices do not have geographical restraints and could in theory be deployed anywhere.
- High energy output. A tiny amount of fusion fuel releases millions of times more energy than burning the same mass of coal, oil, or gas. Relatively small facilities could potentially supply entire cities.
- Abundant fuel. Fusion relies on fuels that can be created from widely available materials, including water and lithium. This provides a potential long‑term energy option that does not depend on fossil fuels. The bi-product of fusion reactions is tritium which can be captured and put back into the energy cycle.
- No long-lived radioactive waste. There is no long-lasting radioactive waste. Any components that do become radioactive lose their radioactivity within a few decades rather than remaining hazardous for thousands of years.
- Long-term economic benefits. After high, upfront costs to develop technology, fusion could provide affordable, stable, and reliable power with low operational costs.
Risks of Fusion
- Radiation exposure. Radiation exposure: Because commercial fusion facilities have not yet operated at scale, there is no historical data on public radiation exposure from fusion activities. As a precaution, many fusion developers set a very conservative design goal of limiting public exposure to 0.01 rem (10 millirem) per year. This is ten times lower than the public exposure limit established in the Washington Administrative Code, which is 0.1 rem (100 millirem) per year.
- Hazardous material. The most important hazardous material at a fusion plant is tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen that is used as part of the fuel. Tritium gives off low energy beta radiation, which can’t penetrate skin but can be harmful if it is inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed into the body as tritiated water. Tritium chemically behaves like ordinary hydrogen, so it can spread easily if not carefully contained. For this reason, fusion plants are designed with multiple barriers, recovery systems, and constant monitoring to keep tritium tightly controlled.
- Activation of materials. When high energy neutrons from the fusion reaction strike steel, concrete, and other components, they can make those materials temporarily radioactive. This process is called activation.
How is DOH Involved?
The radiological hazards of fusion resemble those of particle accelerators, rather than nuclear fission reactors, so the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) decided fusion technology would be regulated like other materials facilities. Particle accelerators are a machine that speeds up tiny particles, like protons or electrons, to extremely high speeds, often close to the speed of light. Particle accelerators only produce radiation when they’re turned on. The radiation is contained by shielding, and when the machine is powered down, the radiation stops. Some parts inside the machine can become slightly radioactive, but the levels are low and well‑managed with standard safety procedures. This decision gives DOH’s Office of Radiation Protection regulatory responsibilities for fusion facilities in Washington. It's worth noting that Washington State regulates numerous particle accelerates throughout the state. Many of them located in urban areas.
In 1966, the NRC formally “relinquished” (gave) authority to DOH’s Office of Radiation Protection to regulate most uses of radioactive byproduct material. This means, in practice, that activities like the medical use of isotopes in hospitals, industrial radiography, research labs, and potential fusion facilities are licensed, inspected, and overseen and supported by the state.
The NRC retains most of the authority over nuclear fission reactors, such as the Columbia Generating Station, and handles all aspects of reactor licensing, safety oversight, and enforcement.
What does the Office of Radiation Protection do?
The Office of Radiation Protection (ORP) regulates fusion facilities using a coordinated, multi-level approach to ensure safety, environmental protection, and compliance with state and federal standards. ORP independently monitors radiation levels around fusion facilities; this is referred to as environmental dosimetry. Each facility has their own dosimetry program, so our data provides external validation and ensures that radiation exposure remains well below regulatory limits. This dual‑layer approach strengthens public confidence and supports transparent, science‑based oversight.
Fusion companies may use or possess certain radioactive materials, including sealed sources, byproduct materials, or other radionuclides used in research, diagnostics, or machine operation. These radioactive materials require a specific radioactive materials license issued by DOH. Washington’s Radioactive Materials Section issues these licenses under state law, which requires written applications and ensures radioactive materials are handled safely and securely.
Fusion facilities can involve processes that have the potential to release radioactive material into the air. When this potential exists, DOH reviews and authorizes these air emissions to ensure they meet Washington’s strict health and environmental standards.
The Office of Radiation Protection also evaluates each facility’s operational controls, reviews monitoring data, and verifies protective measures. This oversight helps ensure the safety of workers, nearby communities, and the environment.
Regulating Fusion
Washington State’s current framework for regulating fusion is like other radiation-producing facilities. Regulation efforts include:
- Ensuring facility designs incorporate robust engineering controls and adequate shielding to limit radiation exposure
- Evaluating safety analyses
- Evaluating operating procedures
- Evaluating maintenance plans to verify that radiation risks are minimized during all phases of operation
As fusion technologies evolve, the state may adapt to address emerging hazards, measurement methods, and operational practices. This approach provides a consistent framework for operators and reviewers that are already familiar with other radiation producing facilities.
PLASMA Office of Radiation Protection (ORP) Fusion Workgroup
The purpose of the PLASMA (Policy, Licensing, Alignment, Safety Monitoring, and Analysis) Workgroup is to ensure ORP is prepared for the emergence of fusion facilities in Washington by coordinating activities, developing clear policy and technical guidance, and maintaining alignment across programs.
This workgroup brings together expertise from licensing, inspection, policy, emergency preparedness, and environmental monitoring to support consistent oversight and effective communication. The group will stay connected with federal partners such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), collaborate with other state agencies, and provide practical, accessible information to interested parties and the public.
Legislative Efforts
Washington’s existing law, the Clean Energy Transformation Act, commits the state to 100% clean electricity by 2045, which creates a strong policy backdrop for carbon free generation technology, including fusion.
House Bill 1924 (2023-24) defined “fusion energy” and directed state agencies (including DOH, the Washington Department of Commerce, and the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council) to establish a fusion energy workgroup (PDF) to identify permitting, siting, licensing, and registration pathways for fusion energy. This bill also places fusion energy innovation under the state’s broader energy strategy.
The fusion energy work group also recommended giving fusion facilities a choice among 3 pathways for siting and permitting:
- Local government led process
- State-level coordinated clean energy permit process (via the Washington Department of Ecology)
- Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council process
House Bill 1018 (2025) amended statute to allow fusion energy facilities to access the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council certification process, which handles major energy facility siting.