ENERGY
Fusion supply chain trade show lands in New Mexico as industry heats up
Fusion Industry Association chose Santa Fe for its inaugural event, drawn by state鈥檚 research hubs
Santa Fe is hosting the first-ever Fusion Supply Chain Trade Show on Tuesday, a sign of New Mexico鈥檚 rapidly growing role in the field of fusion energy.
The two-day trade show at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino is hosted by the Fusion Industry Association, a nonprofit trade group based in Washington, D.C., that champions fusion energy 鈥� the power driving the sun and stars. The association views fusion energy as a solution to reverse climate change and provide global energy independence through sustainable power.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of excitement about fusion now, and people want to be involved,鈥� said Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association, or FIA.
The association, which Holland said aims to be a 鈥渦nified voice in a broad and diverse industry,鈥� represents 45 member companies that build power plants to commercialize fusion energy, including Santa Fe-based Liberty Fusion.
The FIA was drawn to New Mexico as the trade show鈥檚 location because of its 鈥渇orward-leaning role in attracting a fusion industry to the states鈥� through research and education, Holland said. The state is home to research centers, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, which have driven breakthroughs in the nuclear fusion industry.
The two-day event, sponsored by several organizations including the New Mexico Economic Development Department, will allow businesses to meet, collaborate and showcase their latest work.
鈥淵ou want to go somewhere where people want you, and it鈥檚 very clear that New Mexico wanted us to come,鈥� Holland said.
The event is the latest win for New Mexico鈥檚 growing fusion industry.
Pacific Fusion, a commercial fusion energy developer headquartered in California, will break ground later this summer on its $1 billion research and manufacturing campus at Mesa del Sol that is expected to create over 200 long-term jobs, said Chief Operating Officer Carrie von Muench.
鈥淓vents like this are a great way to bring folks doing work in the field together,鈥� von Muench said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e exactly what it takes to turn an emerging technology into a scalable industry, and it鈥檚 the places that move with urgency that鈥檒l have an advantage in the next phase of fusion. And we think it can be New Mexico if it keeps moving decisively.鈥�
Von Muench continued, 鈥淚f New Mexico becomes the fastest and most capital-efficient place in the country for advanced energy and manufacturing projects, it can win a rapidly growing global fusion economy, including the full supply chain.鈥�
A 2025 report from the association found that fusion companies鈥� supply chain spending grew roughly 73% in 2024 from the year prior. Spending is expected to grow by another 25% over the latest annual period. The association plans to release its latest report during this week鈥檚 trade show.
Holland said he hopes suppliers pitching their products during the event gain a better understanding of the industry鈥檚 needs and growth prospects. On the other hand, he wants buyers to recognize that there is a broad and growing group of companies eager to enter the growing industry.
鈥淲e saw it as something that obviously needs to happen at some point, and we thought the time was now,鈥� Holland said.
Keelin Fisher is a business reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kfisher@abqjournal.com.
