WASHINGTON (WV News) — A West Virginia company is one of eight that will receive federal funding for nuclear fusion energy production facilities.
Tokamak Energy, Inc., a nuclear fusion energy technology company based in Bruceton Mills, and seven other firms will receive grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.
DOE has awarded $46 million across the eight firms to develop pilot fusion energy power plants, aiming to be complete in the next 5 to 10 years.
The funding was announced Thursday by US Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and as ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee; and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who serves on the Appropriations Committee and chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
“West Virginia has always been a pioneer in energy generation for our country, and this funding from the DOE reflects that proud history and tradition,” Capito said. “Funding like this can help create opportunities for reliable energy production and works to foster a secure energy future.”
”I am looking forward to seeing how Tokamak Energy, Inc. uses these resources to develop new fusion technologies to help strengthen American energy production.“This marks a pivotal point for advancing U.S. commercial fusion technology with the announcement of the first selections for the new Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, and I could not be prouder that Tokamak Energy was picked alongside only seven other companies from around the nation to help advance the future of fusion energy,” Manchin said. “With the passage of the Energy Act of 2020 and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Congress provided clear bipartisan direction and support for the Department of Energy to undertake an ambitious program to develop fusion technologies to be commercially deployable in the next ten years.”