ENERGY »» ELECTRICITY »» FUSION ENERGY »» Dec 18, 2023

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. Pending Legislation: H.R.5244 - Fusion Energy Act Sponsor: Rep. Lori Trahan (MA) Status: Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security (Energy and Commerce) Chair: Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC) I oppose reforming current fusion energy policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA). I support amending the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to include fusion energy machines such as a particle accelerator that are capable of: 1.) Transforming atomic nuclei, through fusion processes, into other elements. 2.) Directly capturing and using the resultant products, including particles, heat, and other electromagnetic radiation, for a commercial or industrial purpose. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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I support amending the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to include fusion energy machines such as a particle accelerator that are capable of: 1.) Transforming atomic nuclei, through fusion processes, into other elements. 2.) Directly capturing and using the resultant products, including particles, heat, and other electromagnetic radiation, for a commercial or industrial purpose. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Trustee Candidates

Representative If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider passing H.R.5244 - Fusion Energy Act. 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

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