In one of his first acts in office, President George W. Bush set up a National Energy Policy Development Group (FPN01-9), chaired by Vice President Dick Cheney, with Andrew Lundquist as Executive Director. In a front page story April 16, Washington Post reporters Dana Milband and Eric Plantin state that Lundquist, his deputy Karen Knutson and three other staffers "meet weekly with the people in each Cabinet agency assigned to the task force." They say, "The staffers have received thousands of recommendations from hundreds of groups and met personally with many of them." They say the task force "has met four or five times since January and now plans to meet on a weekly basis . . . ." They say a report of about 100 pages, divided into 10 chapters, is expected in three to four weeks.

In late January and early February, on behalf of 190 signatories, FPA president Steve Dean sent letters to Cheney, Lundquist and other Cabinet secretaries on the task force, urging the United States "to strengthen greatly its research into the fundamental science and advanced technology of fusion energy and to prepare a strategic plan for the realization of practical fusion energy as an important element in a long-term, environmentally responsible energy development strategy." (FPN01-11) A response from Lundquist dated April 13, "on behalf of the Vice President," said, "In developing our final report, we will be sure to keep in mind your thoughts and suggestions."

The Post reporters state that the report will begin "with several (chapters) that address supply and demand trends and the competing concerns about health, the environment and the economy." They say, "There are also chapters on energy efficiency and renewable fuels, but the bulk of the report is devoted to domestic oil and gas production, investment in technology to find cleaner ways of burning coal, and the need for expanded infrastructure."

The Post notes that "Cheney and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham have repeatedly called for measures to expand the capacity of existing nuclear power plants and to bring new ones on line to meet long-term energy needs." The reporters say, "The task force report will include Bush's proposal for oil exploration in Alaska's Artic National Wildlife Refuge, despite strong opposition from influential Republicans and Democrats as well as the leading environmental groups." Drilling in Alaska has long been advocated by Sen Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), for whom Lundquist worked before joining the White House staff.

In addition to the April 13 letter from Lundquist, Fusion Power Associates has received responses from other Cabinet agency members of the task force, including the Department of the Treasury (February 14), the Department of the Interior (February 28), the Department of Transportation (February 28), the Environmental Protection Agency (March 5), the Department of Commerce (March 16), and the Department of Energy (March 26). In his March 26 letter, Energy Secretary Spencer Abrahams said, "The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences' work to provide the knowledge needed for an economically and environmentally attractive source of energy and to advance our understanding of plasma science and fusion science is an important part of our efforts in science and technology." He said, "I appreciate your views on the important role fusion energy can play in the long-term energy mix of the Nation and your organization's support of the Department's Fusion Energy Science program." In the February 28 letter from the Department of the Treasury, John C. Hambor, Director, Office of Microeconomic Analysis said, "I agree that energy supply is a long-term issue and that R&D is key to the long-term health of the industry, and I am familiar with the promise of fusion power. We will keep this in mind in our coming efforts to craft an effective forward-looking energy policy."