12/20/2022
Fusion Energy Industry Preps Policymakers for ‘One of the Biggest Technological Game-Changers’ Ever
Fusion energy is real, it’s safe, and it’s poised to change the world. Study up, get ready, and make sure the industry has the right regulatory oversight.
That’s the message from fusion energy industry representatives to legislators and regulators following the Dec. 13 announcement of a historic milestone in the field, the production of net energy in a fusion experiment at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.
“We’re sitting on one of the biggest technological game-changers the world will ever see,” said Mel Clark, CEO and president of the Seattle-based CleanTech Alliance, at the Technology Alliance Policy Matters Summit on Dec 14. “So if you’re a policymaker in Olympia, you need to pay attention to this industry.”
Fusion energy was one of five technologies featured at the Tech Alliance event, under the theme of “Innovation Basics,” with other sessions designed to help policymakers and business leaders understand the fundamentals of blockchain, quantum computing, immunotherapy, and the power grid.
But the fusion discussion was especially timely given the news of the week.
Washington state’s role: There are four companies in Washington state seeking to develop and commercialize fusion energy, more than any other state: Avalanche, Helion Energy, Zap Energy and CTFusion.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the governing body for fusion, but some aspects of regulation could be left to states, Clark said. Washington state is in a position to set standards given the prominence of the industry here.
“It’s really important that Washington legislators are just keeping up to date with what’s going on in the fusion space,” said Jessie Barton, Helion’s communications lead. “That way, whenever that gets handed down, you’re prepared.”
Timing and next steps: Future milestones in the development of fusion energy will involve a combination of scientific and economic breakthroughs, as companies pursue engineering and commercial break-even points.
As an example, Helion expects to demonstrate net electricity from fusion in 2024, Barton said. The company is currently building its seventh fusion prototype.
© CopyRights RawNews1st
