FPN03-45

Abraham on Fusion and Climate Change

July 29, 2003

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, along with Commerce Secretary Don Evans, and the President's Science Advisor Jack Marburger unveiled the Administration's "Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program," at a July 24 briefing. Abraham said that DOE's research program, including those in hydrogen, clean coal, carbon sequestration and fusion, could ultimately reduce greenhouse gases.

The 360-page plan, a 34 page synopsis and a 4-page Executive Summary are posted at http://www.climatescience.gov.

At a July 29 Hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Secretary Abraham made the following comment:

"... perhaps in 20 to 30 years my successor can come before this Committee and explain how the investments we made today have ultimately paid off. What might that Secretary of Energy say? I would hope he or she could say that after successful completion of the ITER experiment, we are now ready to consider construction of a demonstration fusion power plant to deliver electric power to the grid..."