EVERETT, WA – Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced he joined the Congressional Fusion Energy Caucus to highlight the role the renewable energy source plays in driving economic growth, creating jobs and protecting the environment in Northwest Washington.

“Fusion energy is a gateway to a cleaner – and brighter – future,” said Larsen, who also serves as the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “Harnessing the power of fusion now means more jobs, cheaper energy costs, less pollution and better grid resiliency. I will continue to partner with my colleagues, the Administration and with stakeholders in Northwest Washington and across the country to ensure the United States remains the global leader in fusion energy.”

Founded in 2021, the Fusion Energy Caucus informs policymakers and staff about the field’s breakthroughs, research and increasing potential to transform the global energy sector. The caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) and includes more than 90 House members.

What Local Fusion Energy Leaders Are Saying

Northwest Washington is home to two fusion energy companies, Helion Energy and Zap Energy. Leaders of both companies applauded Larsen for his support of fusion energy and a cleaner and greener future.

“Rep. Larsen is a dedicated and knowledgeable advocate for the fusion industry, and we congratulate him on joining the Congressional Fusion Caucus,” said David Kirtley, Founder & CEO of Helion Energy. “He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to advancing clean and sustainable energy solutions. Rep. Larsen’s early advocacy for Helion and the continued support of the federal government have played a pivotal role in our mission to deploy the world’s first commercial fusion power plant here in Washington state. His voice will be a valuable addition to the Fusion Caucus.”

“The city of Everett and the state of Washington have become leaders in the pursuit of commercial fusion energy," said Ryan Umstattd, VP of Product & Partnerships at Zap Energy. "To meet the scale of the world's energy needs, resources for initiatives like the DOE's Milestone-Based Fusion Program will need to grow to be effective, and we're grateful to Representative Larsen for his leadership and support.”

On Wednesday, Larsen visited Helion and Zap to discuss the companies’ ongoing work and how Congress can better partner with fusion energy stakeholders to boost economic opportunity.

Larsen a Champion of Cleaner and Greener Energy

Larsen is a long-time champion of making bold, long-term investments in cleaner and greener energy sources like fusion energy.

1. In February, Larsen supported bipartisan legislation to promote the development of fusion energy.
2. In 2022, Larsen supported the CHIPS and Science Act, which invests $50.3 billion in new funding in research, development and innovation initiatives at the U.S. Department of Energy, including fusion energy.
3. Larsen also supports federal investment in Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), which has awarded $7.7 million to Zap Energy (announcements here and here) and $3.9 million to Helion Energy.
4. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded additional grant funding to Zap Energy through the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program and to Helion Energy through the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) initiative.

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