42 U.S.C. § 13474: Fusion energy

Summary

The Secretary must run a five-year fusion energy program that aims to prove by the year 2010 that making electric power from fusion can work in the real world. The program must cover broad fusion research, take part in the ITER Engineering Design Activity and related work, develop fusion power technology with industry help, design and build a major new fusion research machine, and do research on inertial confinement fusion including a Heavy Ion experiment. Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary must write a management plan with clear goals, milestones, schedules, cost estimates, and needed resources. The plan must explain U.S. roles in ITER design and possible construction/operation, what is needed to build and test an inertial fusion power reactor, whether to expand international cooperation, and how universities and industry should be involved. Each year the Secretary must report progress, organization, staff, funds, and spending to be included in the President’s budget. Congress was authorized to fund $339,710,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $380,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.

Title 42, §13474

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(a)Program

The Secretary shall conduct a fusion energy 5-year program, in accordance with section 13541 and 13542 of this title, that by the year 2010 will result in a technology demonstration which verifies the practicability of commercial electric power production.

(b)Program goals

The goals of the program established under subsection (a) shall include—

(1)a broad based fusion energy program;

(2)United States participation in the Engineering Design Activity of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program and in the related research and technology development efforts;

(3)the development of technology for fusion power and industrial participation in the development of such technology;

(4)the design and construction of a major new machine for fusion research and technology development consistent with paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(5)research and development for Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy and development of a Heavy Ion Inertial Confinement Fusion experiment.

(c)Management plan

(1)Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall prepare a comprehensive management plan for the fusion energy program. The plan shall include specific program objectives, milestones and schedules for technology development, and cost estimates and program management resource requirements.

(2)The plan shall also include a description of—

(A)United States participation in the Engineering Design Activity of ITER, including industrial participation;

(B)potential United States participation in the construction and operation of an ITER facility; and

(C)the requirements needed to build and test an inertial fusion energy reactor for the purpose of power production.

(3)As part of the plan required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall evaluate the status of international fusion programs and evaluate whether the Federal Government should initiate efforts to strengthen existing international cooperative agreements in fusion energy or enter into new cooperative agreements to accomplish the purposes of this section.

(4)The plan shall also evaluate the extent to which university or private sector participation is appropriate or necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this section.

(5)The President shall include in the budget submitted to the Congress each year under section 1105 of title 31 a report prepared by the Secretary describing the progress made in meeting the program objectives, milestones, and schedules established in the management plan. Each such report shall also describe the organization of the program, the personnel assigned and funds committed to the program, and expenditures made in carrying out the program objectives. The report shall be submitted with the plan required under section 13523 of this title.

(d)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out this section $339,710,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $380,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 104–66 inserted first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: “Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall issue a report describing the progress made in meeting the program objectives, milestones, and schedules established in the management plan.”

§13474 Fusion Energy

Summary

Title 42, §13474

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata