> “This is a binding agreement that has financial penalties if we can’t build a fusion system,” Helion founder and CEO David Kirtley tells The Verge. So how ex

> “This is a binding agreement that has financial penalties if we can’t build a fusion system,” Helion founder and CEO David Kirtley tells The Verge. So how exactly is this a "huge, far-from-certain bet" by Microsoft? It sounds much more like Microsoft signed a low risk deal. If the reactor works, Microsoft gets the benefit of fusion power. If the reactor doesn't work, Microsoft gets paid penalty fees.