Fusion Industry Association Publishes White Paper Guiding US States on Fusion Regulation

The Fusion Industry Association released "Fusion Energy, Agreement States, and the Path to Effective Regulation" on September 9, 2026, alongside the Organization of Agreement States' 2026 Annual Meeting in Nashville — the same gathering where Tennessee's first-in-the-nation fusion license was showcased. Because the NRC placed fusion machines under the 10 CFR Part 30 byproduct-materials framework rather than fission reactor rules, Agreement States hold the central role in licensing fusion facilities within their borders. The paper urges states to review existing statutes for a clear, predictable licensing framework; coordinate reciprocity and joint reviews so standardized fusion machines aren't re-reviewed state by state; build regulatory staffing and technical capacity; and work with developers on activated-materials management and disposal pathways.