U.S. initiates construction of pioneering nuclear fusion facility to supply Microsoft's data centers with energy
Helion Energy Begins Construction on First Nuclear Fusion Power Plant
Helion Energy, a startup backed by Sam Altman and SoftBank's venture capital arm, has commenced construction on its first nuclear fusion power plant, Orion, in Malaga, Chelan County, Washington. The project officially started site work in late July 2025, with a target to deliver electricity by 2028.
The site was chosen for its proximity to power infrastructure, including access to the Columbia River's grid resources, enabling easy transmission to Microsoft facilities. Helion CEO David Kirtley confirmed the company remains on track for the 2028 target and emphasized the broader potential of fusion energy to provide abundant, carbon-free electricity.
Orion, the facility, is designed to produce at least 50 megawatts of clean fusion energy, marking a significant milestone toward commercial fusion power in the U.S. In 2023, Helion announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft, with Constellation Energy serving as power marketer, for energy from the Orion plant to be supplied by 2028. Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa has expressed strong support for the project as part of Microsoft's sustainability efforts.
Since 2023, Helion has been actively engaging with local and state stakeholders, including government agencies. The company's project, Orion, received a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) through Washington's comprehensive environmental review process, SEPA.
Helion is not only focused on delivering electricity to Microsoft data centers but also on generating zero-carbon electricity. The company is working on how to reliably generate more energy with its current prototype, called Polaris. The ultimate goal is to produce electricity from fusion and supply the power to various consumers, not just Microsoft.
This project represents one of the closest efforts to commercial fusion energy deployment globally. Microsoft, with its commitment to investing in sustainable energy, is proud to be a partner in this pioneering work in Washington state. The fusion of hydrogen atoms in Orion is expected to connect to Washington's primary power delivery networks, allowing it to connect to the same grid just upstream of the Microsoft data centers.
- The startup Helion Energy, which is backed by Sam Altman and SoftBank's venture capital arm, is leveraging innovation in nuclear fusion technology to propel the aerospace and renewable-energy industry, aiming to combat climate change and finance its projects through power purchase agreements with key industry players such as Microsoft.
- The groundbreaking Orion nuclear fusion power plant, currently under construction in Washington, showcases the potential of science and technology to deliver clean, carbon-free energy that can power not just tech giants like Microsoft, but the entire industry and beyond.
- With Microsoft's Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa expressing strong support for the project, Orion's successful deployment of fusion energy has the potential to revolutionize the energy sector, providing an abundant, climate-friendly alternative to traditional power sources.
- As Helion Energy continues to make strides in the field of nuclear fusion, future efforts may lead to enhancing the company's Polaris prototype, with the ultimate goal of creating a reliable, large-scale solution for generating zero-carbon electricity that can connect to primary power delivery networks.
