If the bill were to become law, it would authorize (but not appropriate) $320 million for the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, compared to the $248 million requested by President Bush. The bill states, "the Fusion Energy Sciences Program budget is inadequate to support the necessary science and innovation for the present generation of experiments, and cannot accommodate the cost of a burning plasma experiment constructed by the United States, or even the cost of key participation by the United States in an international effort."
The bill would order the Secretary of Energy to "develop a plan for United States construction of a magnetic fusion burning plasma experiment for the purpose of accelerating scientific understanding of fusion plasmas." The plan is to be sent to Congress by July 1, 2004. The bill does not authorize construction but only the preparation of a plan. The bill states that, "in addition to the plan ... the Secretary ... may also develop a plan for United States participation in an international burning plasma experiment for the same purpose, whose construction is found by the Secretary to be highly likely and where United States participation is cost effective relative to the cost and scientific benefits of a domestic experiment ...." The bill also would require the Secretary of Energy "not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act" to transmit "a plan for the purpose of ensuring a strong scientific base for the Fusion Energy Sciences Program and to enable the (burning plasma) experiment ...."
On the afternoon of May 9, Congresswoman Lofgren was joined by Congressmen Duke Cunningham (R-CA), Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Mike Honda (D-CA) in conducting a press conference on the bill's introduction. Congresswoman Lofgren said, "Currently, California is spending 50-100 million dollars a day for energy. And this is not just a California issue. It is beginning to hurt western states and may spread to affect the whole U.S. The cost of this bill is less than what California spends in 1 week on energy."
Congressman Cunningham said, "Fusion energy will not solve today's energy crisis in California, but fusion energy is a real prospect for the future. Nevertheless, as we in California know all too well, short, medium and long range planning is critically important when it comes to energy. We must have a long-range vision of what is possible for the future, and plan for it."
Congressman Holt said, "Fusion energy is a technology that holds tremendous promise. If proven practical, fusion energy will serve as a safe, environmentally friendly energy source that is in almost unlimited supply."
Congressman Honda said, "Unfortunately, this vital research has been slowed because the Congress has cut fusion research by over 40% in recent years. As we have all been reminded in recent months in California, a safe and steady energy supply is essential to sustaining our national prosperity. The bottom line is this: Any long-term solution to our energy crisis must be based upon sound science and innovation, not politics as usual. That is why I am so glad to see my colleagues from the other side of the aisle here with us today."
Details of the bill, the press conference and links to the web sites of Representatives Lofgren and Cunningham can be found at http://fire.pppl.gov.
The 22 sponsors of H.R. 1718 - The Fusion Energy Sciences Act of 2001 are:
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
George R. Nethercutt, Jr. (R-WA)
Joe Baca (D-CA)
Mary Bono (R-CA)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Duke Cunningham (R-CA)
Susan Davis (D-CA)
Tom Davis (R-VA)
John T. Doolittle (R-CA)
Bob Filner (D-CA)
Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Ralph Hall (D-TX)
Jane Harman (D-CA)
Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Mike Honda (D-CA)
Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Barbara Lee (D-CA)
John Olver (D-MA)
Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)
John Spratt (D-SC)
Karen Thurman (D-FL)
Zach Wamp (R-TN)