Washington, D.C. –  October 29, 2009 - Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment convened to discuss the future of fusion energy in a hearing entitled “The Next Generation of Fusion Energy Research.” Fusion, the process that powers the sun and the stars, has been actively researched for over 50 years as a promising clean and renewable energy solution.

“It’s probably fair to say that when it comes to fusion, we’re talking about the Holy Grail of energy,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Inglis (R-SC) in a statement submitted for the record. “For the past 50 years, fusion has given us hope as an abundant, clean, secure, and safe source of energy.  We’ve been investing in that hope, learning more about fusion and gaining critical technical knowledge. We’ve also identified more questions that need answering to turn fusion into the energy solution we’re looking for.”

While optimistic about the potential of fusion, Inglis also pointed out how much money the U.S. has spent researching fusion, yet it is still largely undemonstrated.  “We need to understand what these investments will deliver and if these types of investments are getting the most out of scarce federal dollars,” Inglis said.

Because fusion energy is derived from seawater, it is considered to be practically an inexhaustible resource that could provide base-load supply anywhere. Fusion also has the potential to be carbon-free, cost-competitive with fission-based nuclear power, and relatively safe.

Witnesses at today’s hearing advocated for continued research funding, pointing to the many potential benefits of fusion energy.  Along with providing clean abundant energy, witnesses also pointed out that fusion has the potential to allow nations to become energy independent. The U.S. would be less dependent on imported energy resources, improving our national security and creating jobs. 

While research is continually advancing, when asked for a timeframe, today’s witnesses speculated that practical fusion energy will likely not be achieved anytime soon.

The following witnesses testified today before the Subcommittee:

Dr. Edmund Synakowski, Director of Department of the DOE Office of Science’s Fusion Energy Sciences (FES);

Dr. Stewart Prager, Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in Princeton, NJ and former Chair of DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee;

Dr. Thom Mason, Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, TN;

Dr. Riccardo Betti, Assistant Director of the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics in Rochester, NY and former Chair of the National Academies Plasma Science Committee;  and

Dr. Raymond Fonck, Professor of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and former Director of FES.

For more information or to read witness testimony, please visit the GOP Science and Technology Committee website.