| |
Trustee Archive
Nuclear Fusion reactions power the Sun and other stars. Many believe the “holy grail” of clean energy lies in fusion energy. Fusion works by pressing hydrogen atoms into each other with such force that they combine into helium, releasing enormous amounts of energy and heat. Unlike nuclear fission reactions, in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, fusion creates no radioactive waste. Fusion reactors employ powerful magnets or lasers to greatly compress hydrogen particles. A recent breakthrough experiment in fusion technology has, for the first time, produced more energy than consumed by the reactor. This crossed the threshold that scientists call ignition, the dividing line where the energy generated by fusion equals the energy of the incoming lasers that start the reaction. In a brief moment lasting less than 100 trillionths of a second, 2.05 megajoules of energy — roughly the equivalent of a pound of TNT — bombarded a hydrogen pellet. Out flowed a flood of neutron particles — the product of fusion — which carried about 3 megajoules of energy, a factor of 1.5 in energy gain. The heat produced by a thermonuclear fusion reactor could be used by conventional turbine generators to produce electricity without any pollution or waste whatsoever.
Our government has funded fusion science research since the 1950s and today invests about $700 million per year into fusion research. The Department of Energy recently announced that $50 million will go toward private nuclear fusion companies in public-private partnerships, saying “This money signifies that the U.S. government is getting serious about building a fusion program that will have commercial significance on an accelerated timeframe.” Even so, it is estimated that a viable commercial fusion power plant remains at least several decades away. Advocates say a few million dollars is not a sufficient level of funding for fusion technology if it is to solve our energy problems before it’s too late.
Proposed Legislation: Introduce legislation to substantially increase federal funding for fusion energy research and development
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Eddie Johnson (TX) |
- I oppose reforming current fusion energy policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
- I support substantially increasing federal funding for the research and development of fusion energy, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Eddie Johnson (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
|
|
| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
-
I support substantially increasing federal funding for the research and development of fusion energy, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Eddie Johnson (TX) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
|
- Representative
If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Eddie Johnson (TX) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider introducing legislation to substantially increase federal funding for fusion energy research and development.
- American Institute of Physics
If elected as a trustee, American Institute of Physics will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to substantially increase federal funding of fusion research.
The American Institute of Physics is a federation that advances the success of our 10 Member Societies and an institute that operates as a center of excellence supporting the physical sciences enterprise. Over the last 400 years, the physical sciences have evolved a powerful predictive model of our world, enabling stunning technological achievements and enriching our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. AIP has, for nearly a century, worked to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences
|
- No trustee votes received.
|
| Poll Opening Date |
January 16, 2023 |
| Poll Closing Date |
January 22, 2023 |
|
|
