April 16, 1997

FPN97-10 Fusion Program Notes

House Science Committee Backs Fusion

The House Science Committee today approved an authorization bill (H.R. 1277) containing $15 million more for fusion that requested by the President. The bill authorized $240 million per year for the next two years. The authorization bill will be debated in the full House within the next month and some attack on the fusion figure might be expected from environmental groups looking for more money for "renewable" energy technologies Even if passed, however, the authorization bill is only a guideline for the Appropriations Committee bill which actually provides the money. They are not likely to be so generous. There has been no action yet on the Senate side.

The following statements on fusion are contained in the House Science Committee report:

"The Committee provides an additional $15 million for the Fusion Energy Sciences program with the intent that these dollars be used for initiating and strengthening work in alternate confinement concepts; increasing utilization of the remaining two major experiments; strengthening and maintaining diversity in the theory and computational programs; and strengthening basic fusion sciences and technology in the university programs."

The Committee remains strongly supportive of U.S. participation in international scientific endeavors. In this context, the Committee supports U.S. participation through the completion of the ITER Engineering Design Activity in July 1998. However, the Committee notes that to date, there is no official indication from the ITER project group itself or the participating parties what the end of the EDA might bring in terms of an agreement to go forward to construction. At the same time, there are indications there may be some interim period of as much as 2 to 3 years before a final design and construction agreement is in hand. While the Committee applauds the Department's call for a study of the ITER project by the National Academy of Sciences, it remains concerned that there is seemingly no plan to address this interim period. Therefore, the Committee asks that by February, 1998, the Department of Energy submit a plan to Congress that assumes level funding for the program and which addresses the following issues: 1) What, if anything, is the appropriate role of the U.S. fusion community in the ITER project after the completion of the EDA and prior to a construction agreement? 2) Given the importance of participation in the international fusion program to the U.S. fusion program, what other international activities should the U.S. seek to participate in during this interim period? and 3) What elements of the U.S. domestic fusion program should be strengthened and/or maintained in order to ensure that the U.S. has maximum impact on and leverage with the international fusion program in future years?"

For more information, contact: Stephen O. Dean