Fusion Energy Research Accountability Act of 1994

Summary: Fusion Energy Research Accountability Act of 1994 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to convene a fusion policy advisory panel to report to the Congress on:  (1) a single narrow approach to fusion power; and (2) develop recommendations for a plan for the future of domestic fusion energy research, ensuring attention to alternative fusion concepts. 
Directs the Secretary to:  (1) transmit to the Congress a comprehensive management plan for fusion energy research based upon the panel's recommendations; (2) establish a mechanism for ongoing independent evaluation of the fusion energy research program; and (3) transmit a status report biennially to the Congress.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fusion Energy Research 
Accountability Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Federal fusion research program represents an 
        important national investment;
            (2) over the last 40 years, United States taxpayers have 
        paid almost $10,000,000,000 for research on fusion energy;
            (3) fusion energy has the potential to be a safe, secure, 
        and affordable source of energy for thousands of years;
            (4) the Department of Energy's fusion energy program, which 
        is focused almost exclusively on the deuterium-tritium fuel 
        cycle and the tokamak concept for plasma confinement, has 
        demonstrated the scientific feasibility of fusion;
            (5) recent studies from Department of Energy laboratories, 
        recent utility panels, and many in the fusion research 
        community have said that the tokamak concept may be too 
        expensive, radioactive, and complex to lead to a commercially 
        viable power reactor;
            (6) the costs of developing a commercial tokamak fusion 
        reactor are estimated to be $40,000,000,000 by the year 2040;
            (7) Department of Energy advisory panels have urged the 
        Department to support research in alternative fusion concepts 
        to broaden the base from which an eventual fusion power reactor 
        might emerge;
            (8) resource constraints, however, have resulted in a 
        severe reduction in research on alternative fusion concepts;
            (9) construction of large new tokamak devices threatens 
        funding for basic fusion research; and
            (10) the Department of Energy, therefore, should 
        substantially reorient its magnetic fusion research program by 
        terminating planned construction of new, large tokamak devices, 
        and it should begin a major effort on cleaner, cheaper, 
        alternative concepts that have the potential of becoming 
        commercially viable.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``commercially viable'' means--
                    (A) able to attract private sector capital;
                    (B) requiring low operation and maintenance costs, 
                including fuel costs;
                    (C) reliable with continuous operational 
                capability;
                    (D) requiring limited personnel resources;
                    (E) having low plant design complexity;
                    (F) requiring low end-of-life costs;
                    (G) emitting acceptable volumes of waste;
                    (H) relatively easy to site, including low plant 
                space requirements; and
                    (I) safe;
            (2) the term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy; 
        and
            (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.

SEC. 4. ADVISORY PANEL.

    (a) Requirement.--The Secretary shall convene a fusion policy 
advisory panel consisting of representatives from the electric 
utilities, environmental and citizen groups, energy policy analysts, 
advocates of alternative fusion technologies, and others as necessary 
to ensure a broad representation of interests.
    (b) Purpose.--The panel shall analyze the wisdom of a single, 
narrow approach to fusion power, and shall develop recommendations for 
a plan for the future of United States fusion energy research, ensuring 
that adequate attention is given to alternative fusion concepts. Such 
recommendations shall be developed in consideration of the findings of 
this Act with the goal of the development of a commercially viable 
fusion power system, and shall take into account any international 
agreements the United States is party to and recommend any appropriate 
changes thereto.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Within 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the panel shall issue a report to the Congress 
with its recommendations.

SEC. 5. UNITED STATES FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Program Plan.--The Secretary shall develop, and within 270 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act transmit to the Congress, a 
comprehensive management plan for the United States fusion energy 
research program which is based on the recommendations of the panel 
under section 4. The plan shall provide for a fusion research program 
which is focused on fusion concepts that could lead to the development 
of a commercially viable fusion power system. The plan shall include 
specific program objectives, cost estimates, and program management 
resource requirements.
    (b) Independent Evaluation.--The Secretary shall establish a 
mechanism for ongoing independent evaluation of the United States 
fusion energy research program, in order to ensure that programs not 
leading to a commercially viable fusion power system are terminated.
    (c) Reports to Congress.--Within 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary 
shall transmit to the Congress a report describing the progress made in 
meeting the program objectives and schedules established in the 
management plan.