Provisions of Brown’s Fusion Energy Bill

As reported in FYI #84, House science committee chairman George Brown (D-California) has introduced a bill authorizing the Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Program through fiscal year 1997. (As an authorizing, rather than appropriating, committee, the House science committee can only approve programs and recommend funding, but cannot provide funds.)

The current year’s appropriation for the fusion energy program is $343.6 million (adjusted.) A small portion of that funding, $4.0 million, goes toward inertial confinement fusion research; the majority of funding is for magnetic fusion research. The President’s fiscal year 1995 request for the total program is $372.6 million.

Brown’s bill authorizes $380.0 million for fiscal year 1995, $425.0 million for fiscal year 1996, and $475.0 million for fiscal year 1997 for fusion energy research.

H.R. 4553 contains provisions for (1) program direction for the fusion energy research program; (2) U.S. commitment to the completion of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER); (3) a process for siting ITER that will hopefully eliminate some political controversy; and (4) a trust fund, supported by a fee on electricity-generating utilities, to provide the U.S. contribution to ITER design and construction.

In introducing the bill, Brown responded to criticism that the magnetic fusion program has been narrowed to include only the tokamak concept. “Given the limited resources available to the fusion energy research program,” he said, “the focus of DOE’s program on tokamaks is understandable.” The bill precludes appropriations for any magnetic fusion facility other than TPX or facilities associated with ITER.

Brown does, however, “share the concern that promising alternative fusion technologies are not getting adequate support.” The bill provides a separate line item authorization for alternative (other than magnetic) fusion research, and establishes a separate program office for alternative fusion technologies (including, but not exclusively, inertial confinement fusion.) In particular, it authorizes the R&D needed for the Induction Linac Systems Experiment for heavy ion inertial fusion energy. Within the total fusion energy budget, it would approve $26.0 million for alternative fusion technologies in fiscal year 1995, and $31.0 million in each of the years 1996 and 1997.

Funds would not be approved for ITER construction until Congress receives a final cost report and an international agreement is made that meets the bill’s requirements. The National Academy of Sciences is directed to review and evaluate existing fusion concepts, with the goal of commercial viability. The bill also instructs DOE to work more closely with DOD to enhance the civilian energy applications of the defense program, and establishes a University Radiation Science and Technology Program from existing DOE programs.