After 61 years of coal, a groundbreaking project is set to transform the former Bull Run Fossil Plant site into a cutting-edge fusion facility. On January 29, 2026, Type One Energy, backed by the visionary Bill Gates, submitted its initial licensing application to build a stellarator-based fusion facility at this historic location. The project, named Infinity One, aims to revolutionize electricity production by pushing plasma to an astonishing 100 million degrees Celsius using a complex magnetic design.
The demolition of Bull Run's twin smokestacks on June 28 marked the end of an era in Claxton, Tennessee, as it bid farewell to 61 years of coal-fired generation. This momentous occasion not only signifies the closure of a fossil fuel facility but also ushers in a new chapter in electricity production at the same site. Type One Energy strategically chose the Bull Run site in February 2024 as the ideal location for its testbed reactor, and with the licensing process underway, the company is now poised to transform the brownfield site into a fusion research and development hub, showcasing a technology that diverges significantly from the more conventional tokamak approach.
Infinity One's innovative design is based on a stellarator configuration, a unique alternative to the tokamak magnetic confinement systems typically used in nuclear fusion. Both concepts confine plasma in a donut-shaped chamber, but the stellarator's magnetic architecture sets it apart. It employs a twisted and highly intricate array of magnetic coils to maintain plasma stability and achieve temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius, a feat that experts believe could overcome the stability challenges often associated with tokamaks. However, the construction of stellarators presents a complex engineering challenge, which has historically limited their widespread deployment.
The team behind Type One Energy brings a wealth of experience, including founders who previously worked on the Helically Symmetric Experiment at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wendelstein 7-X in Greifswald, Germany, the largest stellarator in operation. This expertise is crucial in tackling the technical demands of stellarator construction.
The Tennessee site is envisioned as a comprehensive campus, accommodating more than just a single prototype. It will include the Infinity One reactor, a workforce training center, and the future Infinity Two fusion power plant, projected to generate 350 MWe. The development plan is structured in multiple phases, with the initial phase targeting the commissioning and startup of Infinity One by 2029. This rapid progression from licensing to operation has drawn measured skepticism, given the technical complexities involved in stellarator construction.
The Bull Run site's selection aligns with the broader movement known as 'repurposed energy,' where new energy technologies are integrated into former fossil fuel infrastructure. Form Energy's Form Factory 1, for instance, is being built in Weirton, West Virginia, on the site of a former steel town. Similarly, a massive battery project is rising in Lincoln, Maine, on the grounds of a former paper mill. TerraPower, another Gates-backed venture focused on fission, is being constructed near a retiring coal facility in Kemmerer, Wyoming, with non-nuclear construction commencing in June 2024.
The licensing application, submitted on January 29, 2026, is a crucial step in laying the groundwork for the fusion facility's construction in Clinton, Tennessee. Company executives emphasize their collaboration with regulators from the outset, aiming to establish Tennessee as an international model of 'safety by design' and transparency in fusion licensing. Building a stellarator capable of delivering reliable, grid-level power is a significant undertaking, and the successful construction and operation of Infinity One will be pivotal in realizing the long-promised vision of fusion as a large-scale energy source, transforming a site that once burned coal into a hub for confining a miniature star.
