ARLINGTON, Va., July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Special Competitive
Studies Project (SCSP) announced today the chairs for the
Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy. This initiative
will be led by Senator Maria
Cantwell (D-WA), Senator Jim
Risch (R-ID), and SCSP President and CEO Ylli Bajraktari. The goal of the Commission is
to position the United States at
the forefront of the fusion energy race.
As the world stands at the cusp of an energy revolution, we
recognize the urgent need to integrate the advancements in fusion
science with practical policy and strategic frameworks. The
Commission will also include esteemed leaders from academia,
government, and industry, to focus on aligning the ecosystem around
scaling fusion energy.
Senator Maria Cantwell has been
leading Congressional efforts to transition to a cleaner, more
affordable, and more resilient energy system. As a senior Member of
the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Finance Committees, she
has helped enact dozens of laws aimed at diversifying U.S. energy
sources and promoting energy independence. As Chair of the
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, she led passage of
the CHIPS & Science Act which authorized nearly $7 billion for fusion-related R&D and pilot
projects. "Fusion is inherently clean, inherently safe, and could
one day soon provide vast amounts of the type of power we need to
tackle the climate crisis," said Sen. Cantwell. "The State of Washington is the world's leading hub
for fusion energy, so I am honored to serve as commission co-chair
and help make fusion a commercial reality."
Senator Jim Risch is a long-time
champion of energy security and of diverse energy sources. Through
his work on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and
his leadership on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he
continues to shape Congress' approach to the energy and technology
competition. "The Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy offers
the opportunity to further explore the potential behind fusion
technology and its role in clean energy development," said Sen.
Risch. "It is an honor to be chosen as a co-chair of the
commission, and I look forward to learning how our technology is
progressing and how America can lead the world on fusion."
The 12-member Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy,
first announced in Fall 2023 at SCSP's Global Emerging Technology
Summit, comes at a critical moment. Global competitors, notably
China, have significantly
increased their investment and advancements in fusion technology.
The Commission aims to position the
United States not only as the leader in fusion science but
also in its scaling as the technology matures. The Commission will
hold sessions throughout 2024.
This effort represents a step towards ensuring U.S. leadership
in a transformative energy technology, with implications for
national security, economic prosperity, and sustainability. The
Commission's work will lay the foundation for a future where fusion
energy could be the key pillar of global energy infrastructure.
For more information, please contact Tara Rigler at
tmr@scsp.ai.
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SOURCE Special Competitive Studies Project