Welcome to Just Outside DC — we’re like the Pirates of the Caribbean when it comes to local news. There are no actual rules here, just guidelines.

THE BIG IDEA

The future of energy is about to blow up in Virginia (hopefully not literally)

Hold on to your reactor rods, folks. Virginia might just beat the world to the punch by hosting the planet's first ever, grid-scale fusion power plant.

(At least, that's the bodacious claim coming from the nerds at Commonwealth Fusion Systems)

These MIT-bred scientists say they'll have their revolutionary "ARC" reactor (affordable, robust, and compact, Robert Downey Jr. won't be there) firing on all cylinders by the early 2030s down in an industrial park near Richmond. If they pull it off, ARC will be pumping out a mega 400 megawatts of clean, green, Earth-friendly electricity. That's enough to power 150,000 homes simultaneously!

Now I know what you're thinking: "Fusion power? Haven't I been hearing that pie-in-the-sky dream for like...ever?" 

Fair point, skeptics. Cracking fusion's endless energy potential has been the ultimate scientific white whale for decades now.

But this time, there's a fusion frenzy brewing that has propeller-heads thinking the game really could be changed. See, CFS claims their bite-sized reactor design, rocking some snazzy new superconductor magnets, will finally make fusion economically viable at last.

Of course, they've got to nail down a few teeny tiny little things first -- like completing their SPARC (smallest possible ARC) test reactor by 2027 and actually proving their holy grail energy solution can produce more juice than it guzzles. But if those overachievers at CFS can make that happen, ARC could render traditional nuclear and renewable skeptics totally obsolete.

Though companies like Lockheed have struck out swinging for the fusion fences before, CFS's $2 billion in investments buys them plenty of attempts on goal.

Forget beaches, Virginia could have tourists coming to geek out at the glowing artificial sun providing the state's power!

Bulletin Board 📌 

Reader Restaurant Recommendation: One of our readers, Heidi, recommends you guys check out Matt and Tony’s Kitchen x Tavern. It’s an all-day American breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria.

QUICK HITS

• Intelligence experts are saying that the Tysons Casino poses a national security threat 😯 

• 94% of all apartments in Washington DC are occupied — with an average of 10 applicants for each vacant apartment 🚪 

• Jill Biden taught her last class at Northern Virginia Community College last week after her 40 year career ✏️ 

LIVE EVENT LOWDOWN

• Christmas Illuminations | festive lights and fireworks over the Potomac all through this weekend at Mt. Vernon 🎆 

• Apres Ski Party | a retro ski-lodge party on the Clarendon Ballroom’s heated rooftop on Saturday evening ⛷️ 

• Santa’s Murder Mystery | race around the DMV in this scavenger hunt — this Saturday in Arlington 🪓 

• Life of Pi | the epic story has been adapted for the stage and is playing at the Kennedy Center until January 🐯 

• $5 Comedy | an affordable lineup of local comedians playing The State Theatre in Falls Church on Saturday (side note: we actually went to one of these recently and the comics were hilarious. YMMV though) 🎙️ 

• Hunchback of Notre Dame | a musical performance based on the novel and Disney picture, all through this weekend at The Workhouse in Lorton 🎭️ 

• Winter Lights Walk | let gingerbread people and penguins guide you in this festive holiday tour in Purcellville this weekend 🎄 

• Christmas Night Market | grab a bite, shop local and enjoy the vibes on Saturday evening in Annandale 🎅 

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