Sec. 116. Fusion energy
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The Director shall carry out a fusion energy sciences research program to expand the fundamental understanding of plasmas and matter at very high temperatures and densities and to build the scientific foundation necessary to enable fusion power. Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall prepare, in consultation with relevant stakeholders including experts in fusion science and technology and engineering and operations, and submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a plan to carry out the program set forth in subsection (a).
The plan shall— outline the tasks required to resolve the remaining scientific, engineering, and materials challenges, including a schedule for accomplishing these tasks under various budget scenarios; identify priorities for initiation of facility construction and facility decommissioning under various budget scenarios; specify how existing domestic experimental capabilities and United States participation in the ITER project contribute to this effort, and what additional capabilities, including facilities for materials, plasma confinement, and fusion technologies and advances in large scale computer simulations may be needed within the United States; provide a strategy to develop conceptual designs for building a demonstration power plant including the associated cost and schedule under various budget scenarios, and address considerations with respect to operability, reliability, and maintainability; and describe options of involving international partners or collaborators and explain how such partnerships or collaborations might be leveraged to decrease costs or accelerate the schedule while enhancing United States leadership in fusion science and technology.
Not later than 120 days after submission of the plan required under subsection (b), the Department’s Fusion Energy Science Advisory Committee shall provide the Director, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report of its findings, analyses, and recommendations to improve the plan, including a review of the most recent budget request. The Comptroller General shall conduct a study to identify uncertainties and the outlook regarding on-schedule completion of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.
The study shall review, examine, and investigate any management and technical challenges, as well as financial risks, associated with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the study.