Realta Fusion to Convert Former Oscar Mayer Factory into Fusion R&D Hub

Realta Fusion plans to turn an old Oscar Mayer factory in Madison, Wisconsin into a fusion research facility called Forge, backed by $55 million in state and local incentives.

This article was drafted with AI assistance from multiple sources and was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication.

Realta Fusion has selected a former Oscar Mayer factory in Madison, Wisconsin as the site for its new research and development facility, named Forge. The company, which spun out of an experiment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, aims to create its first plasma at the facility in 2029.

Realta Fusion recently demonstrated the conversion of fusion reaction energy directly into electricity, a key technical milestone. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Kieran Furlong.

The project is supported by approximately $55 million in incentives from the state of Wisconsin and the city of Madison. A sales tax exemption for the fusion industry, signed into law in Wisconsin in April 2026, is expected to save Realta an estimated $37.5 million. The state is also providing $15 million in enterprise zone tax credits, and the city of Madison is offering $2.8 million in tax increment financing.

"From sausages to fusion," Furlong said, referencing the factory's history. "Wisconsin really decided they want to throw their weight behind fusion," he added, noting that the state's support makes it easier to attract talent and partners. "It’s also advantageous to be the state champion," Furlong said. "We get the attention of people who matter, who can help us, who want to see Realta succeed and want to see Wisconsin be a major hub for fusion."

Wisconsin is already home to other fusion companies, including Shine, located in a nearby suburb of Madison. However, Type One Energy, another Wisconsin fusion startup, moved to Tennessee in 2024. The University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates many plasma physicists annually, providing a talent pipeline for the industry.

Fusion startups have raised over $1.5 billion globally in 2026 year to date, according to industry data, reflecting growing investor interest in the sector.