Powering the future: The world’s first grid-scale fusion plant coming to Virginia
The Speakers:
Kristen Cullen is the head of Global Policy and Public Affairs at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) where she leads efforts related to global public policy, state government relations, public affairs, community relations, and siting.
She led the global siting search for the world’s first fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, and previously led the siting process for CFS' commercial fusion campus and headquarters, now in Devens, MA.
Prior to CFS, she was a senior vice president for the public affairs practice at Rasky Partners, where she developed and implemented communications, public affairs, and government relations strategies for a range of clients specifically in regulated industries.
Cullen also has worked in the Massachusetts Statehouse, and as a campaign manager and communications director on federal, state, and local political campaigns.
She started her career as a reporter working for local ABC and NBC affiliates. Her reporting experience includes covering the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary leading up to the 2008 Presidential Campaign. Her reporting has appeared nationally on CNN, ABC, and GMA.
Cullen earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wheaton College, and a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College.
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Emil Avram is vice president–Business Development at Dominion Energy.
He is responsible for the growth and development of the company’s regulated utility power generation portfolio with Dominion Energy Virginia, as well as other affiliate businesses, including development of nuclear, fossil fuel, renewable energy, and energy storage facilities. He has led the development and construction of over $20 billion in energy, gas pipeline, and power generation projects.
After having spent 10 years at United Technologies in various roles in the aerospace and energy industries, Avram joined Dominion Energy in 2001 and has held roles in project development and construction in both the power generation and interstate gas pipeline businesses. He became vice president–Innovation in 2018 and assumed his current position in December 2019.
He currently serves on the board of the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, an independent nonprofit organization in Ashland that supports high-tech entrepreneurs and small business owners driving the innovations needed to achieve a net-zero carbon economy. He previously served on the board of the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), which grows and diversifies Virginia’s economy by investing in and accelerating innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship. He also has served on the board of HomeAgain, which helps families and individuals experiencing homelessness in the Richmond area secure and maintain a home again.
Avram received his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his MBA from the University of Connecticut.
Tune in to a free webinar on Wednesday March 5 at noon to learn about the world’s first grid-scale fusion power plant that will be coming to Chesterfield County.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is at the forefront of revolutionizing clean energy through its planned commercial fusion power plant, called ARC.
Designed to generate 400 megawatts of zero-carbon electricity – enough to power 150,000 homes – ARC will play a critical role in meeting Virginia’s growing energy demands while enhancing grid reliability.
Backed by cutting-edge high-temperature superconducting magnet technology, Commonwealth Fusion Systems is pioneering a scalable and economically competitive path to fusion energy. This breakthrough will provide a constant, clean power source without the long-lived radioactive waste associated with traditional nuclear energy.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, based in Massachusetts, was spun out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2018 to commercialize fusion energy.
The company announced its plans for the Chesterfield County plant in December. It expects to begin construction after obtaining state, local, and federal permits.
The fusion plant is scheduled to start generating power for the electrical grid in the early 2030s. It’s designed to run for 20 years or more.
By establishing Virginia as a hub for fusion energy innovation, CFS is shaping the future of sustainable power while supporting the state’s commitment to clean energy leadership.
Dominion Energy is working closely with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to understand the technical and economic value that fusion energy could bring to its mission of providing reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy to its customers in Virginia.
The planned fusion power plant is on property owned by Dominion Energy, which will lease it to CFS.