I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4553
To authorize the fusion energy research, development, and demonstration
program at the Department of Energy, to direct the participation of
the United States in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Re-
actor, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 9, 1994
Mr. BROWN of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To authorize the fusion energy research, development, and
demonstration program at the Department of Energy,
to direct the participation of the United States in the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fusion Energy Re-
search Authorization Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(6) fusion energy is one of the nonfossil fuel
technologies which could potentially provide safe,
abundant, environmentally sound, secure, and af-
fordable energy supplies in the future;
(7) in the last 16 years, fusion energy research-
ers have made significant progress toward realizing
magnetic fusion as a viable source of energy, in-
creasing power production from test reactors more
than a million-fold over that time period;
(8) while significant engineering, technical, and
scientific challenges remain to make fusion energy
commercially viable, limited funding remains the pri-
mary constraint to more rapid progress;
(9) the technical risks and the long time scale
needed to demonstrate the commercial viability of
fusion energy will likely require a stable, predictable,
and sustained investment of government funding for
decades to come;
(10) while magnetic fusion is the leading fusion
technology, research on alternative fusion concepts
should continue to be supported;
(11) opportunities to participate in inter-
national fusion experiments can dramatically lower
the cost to the Federal Government of fusion energy
research;
(12) the United States must demonstrate that
it is a credible partner in international scientific pro-
grams by being able to make and keep long-term
commitments to funding and participation; and
(13) the United States should commit to par-
ticipating in the siting, construction, and operation
of ITER as soon as practicable.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are to—
(1) provide direction and authorize appropria-
tions for a broadly based fusion energy research pro-
gram at the Department of Energy which includes
development of the magnetic fusion program and re-
search on alternative fusion concepts;
(2) provide an accelerated commitment to
United States participation in ITER and provide au-
thorization of appropriations for such activity con-
tingent on meeting program milestones;
(3) provide for the selection of a host country
and establish a site selection process for ITER; and
(4) provide a stable basis of funding for multi-
year fusion energy research facility construction
commitments through the establishment of a trust
fund.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘alternative fusion concepts’’
means any concepts for the production of energy
based on the fusing of atomic nuclei other than to-
roidal magnetic fusion concepts, including heavy ion
inertial fusion, aneutronic fusion, and electrostatic
fusion;
(2) the term ‘‘Department’’ means the Depart-
ment of Energy;
(3) the term ‘‘Fusion Energy Research Pro-
gram’’ means the program described in section 5;
(4) the term ‘‘international partners’’ means
the United States, the European Atomic Energy
Community, Japan, and the Russian Federation;
(5) the term ‘‘ITER’’ means the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor;
(6) the term ‘‘magnetic fusion’’ means fusion
based on toroidal confinement concepts;
(7) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Energy; and
(8) the term ‘‘Tokamak Physics Experiment’’
means a facility to replace the Tokamak Fusion Test
Reactor which is designed to be capable of conduct-
ing experiments on reactions with a pulse length of
at least 15 minutes and demonstrating a more com-
pact and efficient magnetic fusion reactor design.
SEC. 5. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) FUSION PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry
out in accordance with the provisions of this Act a Fusion
Energy Research Program, including research, develop-
ment, and demonstration to demonstrate the technical and
economic feasibility of producing safe, environmentally
sound, and affordable energy from fusion.
(b) PROGRAM GOALS.—The goal of the Fusion En-
ergy Research Program is to demonstrate by the year
2010 the practicability of commercial electric power pro-
duction and to lead to commercial production of fusion
energy by the year 2040.
(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The Fusion Energy Re-
search Program shall consist of the following elements:
(1) Research, development, and demonstration
on magnetic fusion energy technology, including—
(A) research on plasma physics and con-
trol, confinement, ignition, and burning;
(B) the design, construction, and operation
of experimental fusion reactors, including the
Tokamak Physics Experiment, and the develop-
ment of special materials for such reactors, the
facilities to develop such materials, and the de-
velopment of components which support the op-
eration of such reactors, such as diagnostic and
remote maintenance equipment; and
(C) participation by the United States in-
dustrial sector in the design and construction of
fusion reactors, and cooperation with utilities.
(2) Research, development, and demonstration
of alternative fusion concepts, to be administered
through an Assistant Director for Alternative Fusion
Research, including research and development need-
ed to build and test an Induction Linac Systems Ex-
periment for the purpose of developing heavy ion in-
ertial fusion energy.
(3) Participation in the design, construction,
and operation of ITER with the goal of ITER be-
coming operational by the year 2005.
SEC. 6. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF FUSION TECHNOLOGIES.
Within 6 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall contract with the National Acad-
emy of Sciences to conduct a study which examines the
various magnetic fusion technologies and alternative fu-
sion concepts to assess their current state of development,
evaluates the potential of such technologies and concepts
to become commercially viable sources of energy in the fu-
ture, and identifies the research and development goals
and priorities, and the range of probable costs and time
scales, needed to achieve commercial viability.
SEC. 7. ITER SITE SELECTION PROCESS.
(a) ITER STUDY AND REPORT.—Within 120 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a study which compares the technical
and scientific advantages and disadvantages and the eco-
nomic costs and benefits to the United States of siting
ITER in the United States with siting ITER outside of
the United States. Such study shall include the consider-
ation of the impact on employment of constructing ITER
in the United States, the effect of manufacturing major
ITER subsystems (such as superconducting magnets) in
the United States, and the effect of siting ITER in the
United States on United States funding requirements for
participation in ITER.
(b) HOST-COUNTRY
SELECTION.—The Secretary
shall seek to reach an agreement with the international
partners which provides for—
(1) the selection of a host country in which to
site ITER by October, 1995;
(2) the equitable distribution of economic and
technological benefits among the international part-
ners, including the construction of ITER and related