California firm founders, including two US Energy Dept. veterans, aim to scale laser-based inertial confinement fusion technology to develop a grid-scale power plant, with $450M just gained from private investors.
Commonwealth Fusion will locate 400-MW facility near Richmond. aiming to secure permits next year and operate by the early 2030s—backed by more than $2B in private investment and government funding.
Proposed EPA mandate's reliance on hydrogen and carbon capture evoked concern in comments sent by an Aug. 9 deadline, but supporters say investment in clean transition approaches already are well underway.