Democrat, GOP Lawmakers In NJ Find Common Ground Over Fusion Energy

NEWARK, NJ — Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Republican New Jersey state senator Joe Pennacchio have found common ground over a common issue: fusion energy.

Last week, the United States Department of Energy announced a huge breakthrough in the field of fusion energy research, calling it a “major scientific breakthrough decades in the making that will pave the way for advancements in national defense and the future of clean power.”

What’s the big deal? According to the Department of Energy, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California managed to achieve “scientific energy breakeven,” – meaning that it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.

Much more research is needed before the technology can be used to power homes or businesses. But lawmakers including Booker – a Newark resident – have been cheering the news and pushing for more federal funding to speed the process along.

On Friday, Booker urged Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, to increase the administration’s budget request for next year to $1.04 billion for the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences within the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

“Fusion energy promises to be a safe, clean, and sustainable energy source that can provide the United States with energy independence and a nearly limitless energy supply,” Booker wrote. “It is the ideal energy source to operate at high capacity, 24 hours a day, and year-round, regardless of weather and sunlight, and without carbon emissions or long-lived radioactive waste.”

“Fusion energy developed and produced in the U.S. will – and must – be a key component of the country’s near- and long-term energy security strategy,” Booker added.

The senator continued:

“More than ever before, the United States is ready to begin moving toward commercial fusion energy. The field has reached important scientific and technological milestones, including the recent announcement that the National Ignition Facility achieved ‘fusion ignition’ – a major scientific breakthrough that was decades in the making. In addition, construction on the international ITER project is nearly 80 percent complete, and earlier this year DOE launched the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, which supports private entities – possibly teamed with national laboratories, universities, or other partners – working to achieve technical and commercialization milestones, including designs for a fusion power plant.”

Booker concluded:

“The activities authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act, once funded, will be a critical step toward boosting the research capabilities of federal agencies, meeting the nation’s climate goals, and ensuring U.S. dominance in the industries of the future. The FY 2024 budget request should reflect the ambition of this historic legislation and demonstrate to the world that the U.S. government is serious about advancing the research and development programs outlined within it. We call on the administration to fund the DOE Office of Science at $9.5 billion, as authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act, with $1.04 billion dedicated to fusion energy research.”

The letter is cosigned by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Read the full text here.

Article continues below

Booker isn’t the only politician from New Jersey who is excited about the recent developments in fusion energy.

Calling it the “Holy Grail” of energy sources, Sen. Joe Pennacchio – a Republican who represents the state’s 26th Legislative district – said the breakthrough may be “one of the most significant scientific achievements of this century.”

“This is proof of concept – it works,” the senator enthused. “It’s no longer just a hypothesis on a white board.”

• See related article: NJ Senator Cheers Big Breakthrough In Nuclear Fusion: 'The Race Is On'

According to Pennacchio, it’s a perfect time for New Jersey to seize the opportunity and pour more funding into fusion research. Doing so could position the state at the front of the pack when it comes to the future of energy production, he argued.

“Investment in private sector research has never been higher and interest will surely increase dramatically after [Tuesday’s] announcement,” Pennacchio said. “The implications are massive, and the race is on.”

“New Jersey cannot wait to capitalize on this opportunity,” he urged.

• See related article: When New Jersey Dems, GOP Agree: Going Beyond Blue And Red

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.