March 2026 Dinner Meeting | Speaker: Jennifer Strunkin - Commonwealth Fusion Systems

For the first time in history, scientists are on the verge of creating a controlled, self-sustaining fusion reaction — a discovery that could deliver virtually limitless clean energy and reshape entire economies. And it’s happening right here in River City!

Our March dinner features Jennifer Strunkin, Principal for Community Relations and Local Government Affairs at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) — a company that is putting Central Virginia at the forefront of the global race to make fusion power a practical, affordable source of clean energy. Jennifer will share how this pioneering effort is taking shape and what it could mean for Virginia - and the world’s - economy workforce, and communities.

CFS spun out of MIT in 2018 with a bold goal: to harness the same process that powers the sun to provide clean, economical energy. Its prototype reactor, SPARC, now under construction near Boston, is designed to demonstrate that fusion can produce more energy than it consumes — a breakthrough that could redefine how the world generates electricity.

The company’s first commercial power plant, known as ARC, is planned for Chesterfield County, potentially making the Richmond region a key player in one of the most significant energy advances in modern history.

Joining Jennifer will be Erich J Fritz from Dominion Energy who will address how Dominion Energy is viewing Fusion as it relates to Dominions total power situation. 

Erich J. Fritz

Manager – Generation Development

Dominion Energy Virginia

Erich Fritz is the Manager of Generation Development at Dominion Energy. He is responsible for leading the development of advanced nuclear generation within the Commonwealth of Virginia. This includes securing land control, assessing site characteristics for environmental and construction considerations, managing local permitting, leading due diligence, and evaluating project financials.

Prior to his current role, Erich led efforts for the acquisition of power generation projects, origination of corporate renewable power purchase agreements, and development of renewable energy projects for both the regulated utility in Virginia as well as the company’s non-regulated affiliate. He joined the company in 2011 as a nuclear engineer in the nuclear fuels group.

A native of Virginia, Fritz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State University in 2010.