This bill establishes the Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy to significantly advance near-term and long-term fusion energy science and technology. Its primary goals are to enhance U.S. economic and energy security, maintain leadership in fusion, and accelerate the research, development, demonstration, deployment, and market adoption of fusion technologies through private sector partnerships. The Office will also coordinate existing Department of Energy programs, such as those under the Office of Science, to align capabilities for commercial plant deployment and ensure a robust national fusion supply chain and trained workforce. A central component is the creation of a Fusion Innovation Center , which will lead public-private partnerships with the ambitious goal of starting construction on more than one private-sector fusion power plant by December 31, 2028. The legislation mandates the Secretary and the Director of the Office to submit a commercial deployment roadmap to Congress within 180 days, detailing strategies to overcome barriers and meet key deployment milestones. It also directs the consolidation of relevant commercially oriented Department fusion programs into the new Office to streamline efforts and avoid duplication.
This bill establishes the Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy to significantly advance near-term and long-term fusion energy science and technology. Its primary goals are to enhance U.S. economic and energy security, maintain leadership in fusion, and accelerate the research, development, demonstration, deployment, and market adoption of fusion technologies through private sector partnerships. The Office will also coordinate existing Department of Energy programs, such as those under the Office of Science, to align capabilities for commercial plant deployment and ensure a robust national fusion supply chain and trained workforce. A central component is the creation of a Fusion Innovation Center , which will lead public-private partnerships with the ambitious goal of starting construction on more than one private-sector fusion power plant by December 31, 2028. The legislation mandates the Secretary and the Director of the Office to submit a commercial deployment roadmap to Congress within 180 days, detailing strategies to overcome barriers and meet key deployment milestones. It also directs the consolidation of relevant commercially oriented Department fusion programs into the new Office to streamline efforts and avoid duplication.