Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to redirect the Department of Energy's fusion energy program in a way that will ensure that the United States works closely with the international fusion community toward the near-term goal of evaluating the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion energy. It is my firm belief that this restructuring of the Department's fusion program is necessary if the United States is to be in the position to realize the full potential of this energy source in the next century.
The Department of Energy now spends close to $350 million annually on its fusion research program, most of which is focused on magnetic fusion. A significantly smaller part of the program is focused on inertial confinement fusion. Inertial confinement fusion has been developed largely through the defense programs part of the Department of Energy, with a very small portion funded by the energy research program.
The Department's magnetic fusion research focuses on the use of strong magnetic fields to confine an extremely hot gas which undergoes fusion and produces heat. The physics of fusion, the energy process that powers our sun, is well understood. How to contain and harness that energy is not. Great strides have been made in the magnetic fusion program over the past several years. But there has also been significant restructuring of this program as it has become clear that Federal expenditures for research will be increasingly scarce. As a result, progress in this program has been difficult to measure.
Congress needs to make basic decisions about the fusion program. We must develop reasonable and near-term goals against which we will be able to measure progress. And we must work more closely with the international community toward those goals. We must streamline this program so that it is clearly focused on achievement of the next major milestone in magnetic fusion--the international thermonuclear experimental reactor, also known as ITER.
The legislation I am introducing today would do just that. It would direct the Secretary of Energy to focus the Department's magnetic fusion energy program on the development of ITER with the ultimate goal of developing a fusion demonstration reactor.
Last year, the United States entered into an agreement with Japan, Russia, and the European Community to design ITER. The agreement provides for completion of the design by 1996, with the cost of design activities borne equally by the four countries. The agreement addresses only the design phase of ITER, however, and any further agreement on the siting or construction of ITER has yet to be negotiated. If a decision is made to go ahead with sitting and construction, it is anticipated that construction of ITER would take 7 years from the time of site selection.
ITER is expected to embody most of the features of a fusion powerplant. ITER is being designed to produce 1,000 megawatts of energy, which is about half of that produced by an average-sized conventional electricpower plant. The purpose of ITER is to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of magnetic fusion energy and to prove that a sustained fusion reaction can be maintained at an energy level sufficient to generate electricity in commercial quantities. Today, we can produce a fusion reaction for only a second or two. ITER will also test the types of materials and components that will be needed in a fusion demonstration reactor.
Once ITER proves that a sustained fusion reaction is possible and tells us what materials will be needed for a fusion reactor, an actual demonstration fusion reactor can be built. It is my expectation that ITER will resolve these issues sufficiently so we will be able to move forward to a demonstration reactor. But I also believe that we should not continue to spend substantial amounts of money studying the engineering problems associated with fusion if we cannot reach an agreement with the international community to develop ITER or if we decide ITER will not lead to a fusion demonstration reactor.
The United States has spent billions of dollars trying to make fusion energy a practical and commercial reality. It is time to focus our efforts on demonstrating the engineering feasibility of fusion through our participation in ITER. And our existing programs must be restructured accordingly to support that effort. While some level of basic research in fusion would still be appropriate in the absence of ITER, it would not be appropriate to continue the level of effort of today. Therefore, the bill directs the Secretary to reduce the magnetic fusion energy program to a basic energy program in the event it becomes apparent that we cannot or should not proceed with ITER.
We are at a critical juncture for the magnetic fusion program. It is time for the United States to make a commitment to ITER and to work with the international community to complete this project. The Secretary of Energy must be given authority to negotiate with the other countries involved in the ITER project. The bill provides the Secretary with such authority.
To develop ITER we need to plan to tell us how to get there. The bill would direct the Secretary to develop such a plan identifying the budget, critical path, milestones, and schedules for ITER. While other countries such as Japan have already selected a candidate host site for ITER, the United States has yet to begin a candidate selection process. If we want to compete to host ITER here in the United States, we need to start that process today. With the international community, we will also need to select a final host site as soon as possible so that construction can begin when the design is complete. To get this process moving along, the bill requires the Secretary to find a candidate host site within the United States for ITER and to identify the steps necessary for section of a final host site by the international community.
ITER will tell us whether fusion is the energy of the 21st century. The ITER design effort is well underway, and I am pleased that the United States is an active participant in that effort. But we must also be ready to take the next step to see this project to fruition. We are at a point that our magnetic fusion program must be focused entirely on ITER, and we must develop a plan to tell us how to get there. We should find a host site, be it here in the United States or abroad, so we can begin construction of ITER. The bill I am introducing today will commit the United States to such a process.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill appear in the Congressional Record following my statement.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
[Page: S3654]
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `International Fusion Energy Act of 1993'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES AND DEFINITIONS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) fusion energy has the potential to be safe, environmentally attractive, secure and economically affordable source of energy;
(2) the United States Department of Energy's magnetic fusion energy program has made significant progress toward realizing fusion as a viable source of energy;
(3) other industrial nations have also invested in significant magnetic fusion energy programs;
(4) an integrated program of international collaboration will be necessary for continued progress to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of magnetic fusion energy;
(5) there is international agreement to proceed with the engineering and design of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor to prove the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion energy and to lead to a demonstration reactor;
(6) the United States should focus the Department of Energy's magnetic fusion energy program on the design, construction and operation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor;
(7) the continuation of an aggressive fusion energy program requires the Department of Energy, industry, utilities, and the international fusion community to commit to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor as soon as practicable; and
(8) an effective U.S. fusion energy program requires substantial involvement by industry and utilities in the design, construction, and operation of fusion facilities.
(b) Purposes: The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) redirect and refocus the Department's magnetic fusion energy program in a way that will lead to the design, construction and operation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor by 2005, in cooperation with other countries, and operation of a fusion demonstration reactor by 2025;
(2) develop a plan identifying the budget, critical path, milestones and schedules for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor;
(3) eliminate from the Department of Energy's magnetic fusion energy program those elements that do not directly support the development of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor or the development of a fusion demonstration reactor; and
(4) select a candidate host site within the United States for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor and to identify the steps necessary to lead to the selection of the final host site by the international community.
(c) Definitions.
(1) `Department' means the United States Department of Energy;
(2) `ITER' means the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor; and
(3) `Secretary' means the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy.
SEC. 3. INTERNATIONAL FUSION ENERGY PROGRAM.
(a) Program: The Secretary shall redirect and refocus the Department's magnetic fusion program in a way that will lead to the design, construction and operation of ITER by 2005 and operation of a fusion demonstration reactor by 2025. The Department's magnetic fusion program shall be referred to as the ITER program and shall be carried out in cooperation with the international community.
(b) Requirements: In developing the ITER program, the Secretary shall--
(1) establish as the main focus of the Department's magnetic fusion energy program the development of ITER;
(2) provide for the development of fusion materials and other reactor components to the extent necessary for the development of a fusion demonstration reactor;
(3) eliminate those components of the magnetic fusion energy program not contributing directly to development of ITER or to the development of a fusion demonstration reactor;
(4) select a candidate host site within the United States for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor;
(5) negotiate with other countries involved in ITER to select a final host site for ITER and to agree to construct ITER as soon as practicable;
(6) provide for substantial U.S. industry and utility involvement in the design, construction and operation of ITER to ensure U.S. industry and utility expertise in the technologies developed; and
(7) provide for reducing the level of effort in the ITER program to the levels prescribed in section 4(b)(2) in the event the ITER program is terminated in accordance with subsection (g).
(c) Management Plan.--(1) Within 180 days of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and implement a management plan for the ITER program. The plan shall be revised and updated biannually.
(2) The plan shall--
(A) establish the goals of the ITER program;
(B) describe how each component of the Department's ITER program contributes directly to the development of ITER or development of a fusion demonstration reactor;
(C) set priorities for the elements of the Department's ITER program, identifying those elements that contribute directly to the development of ITER or to the development of a fusion demonstration reactor;
(D) provide for the elimination of those elements of the magnetic fusion energy program not contributing directly to the development of ITER, or to the development of fusion materials or other reactor components that are necessary for the development of a fusion demonstration reactor;
(E) describe the selection process for a proposed host site within the United States for ITER;
(F) establish the necessary steps that will lead to the final selection of the host site for ITER by the countries involved in the ITER program by the end of 1995;
(G) establish the necessary steps that will lead to the design, construction and operation of ITER by 2005 and operation of a fusion demonstration reactor by 2025;
(H) establish a schedule and critical path, including milestones, and a budget that will allow for the design, construction and operation of ITER by 2005 and operation of a demonstration fusion reactor by 2025;
(I) provide mechanisms for ensuring substantial industry and utility involvement in the design, construction and operation of ITER;
(J) set forth any recommendations of the Secretary on--
(i) the need for additional legislation regarding the ITER program; or
(ii) the possibility and desirability of accelerating the design and construction of ITER or the development of a fusion demonstration reactor; and
(K) provide for reducing the level of effort in magnetic fusion to the levels prescribed in section 4(b)(2) in the event the ITER program is terminated in accordance with subsection (g).
(d) International Agreements.--(1) The Secretary may negotiate or enter into agreements with any country governing the design, construction and operation of ITER or facilities related to ITER.
(2) The Secretary shall seek to enter into agreements with other countries to share in the cost of the facilities and components of the ITER program that contribute to the design, construction or operation of ITER or to the development of a fusion demonstration reactor.
(e) Report on ITER Negotiations.--The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Congress on the status of negotiations with other countries regarding ITER. The report shall--
(1) identify the issues to be negotiated with other countries involved in the ITER program;
(2) identify impediments to reaching agreement on a host site for ITER, or on issues relating to the construction or operation of ITER;
(3) identify the steps needed to reach agreement on a host site for ITER or on issues related to the construction or operation of ITER;
(4) establish the timetable for agreement related to the siting, operation and construction of ITER;
(5) assess the likelihood of reaching agreement on a host site for ITER and on issues related to the construction or operation of ITER; and
(6) set forth the Secretary's recommendation on whether a special negotiator should be appointed to carry out negotiations on behalf of the United States with the countries involved in the ITER program.
(f) Certification: Prior to seeking funds for construction of ITER, the Secretary shall certify to the Congress that there is agreement in place or there is a substantial likelihood agreement will be reached with the countries involved in ITER on the siting, construction and operation of ITER.
(g) Termination: (1) The Secretary shall report to Congress if the Secretary determines that--
(A) ITER is no longer essential to the development of a fusion demonstration reactor;
(B) no agreement can be reached on the final host site for ITER;
(C) no agreement can be reached on the final design of ITER or on issues related to construction of ITER; or
(D) there is an insufficient commitment to the final ITER design by U.S. industry and utilities.
(2) Within 30 days of submission of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall initiate the termination of the ITER program.
(3) In the event the Secretary terminates the ITER program, the Secretary may continue to carry out research in magnetic fusion, but only at the levels authorized in section 4(b)(2).
[Page: S3655]
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Limitation on Appropriations: No more funds may be appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act than the amounts set forth in subsection (b). This Act shall be the exclusive source of authorization of appropriations to support any activities of the Secretary relating to magnetic fusion energy.
(b) Appropriations: (1) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out the purposes of this Act $350,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $390,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $475,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, and such sums as may be necessary thereafter.
(2) In the event the Secretary terminates the ITER program, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000 for 1994, $50,000,000 for 1995 and $50,000,000 for 1996 for activities relating to magnetic fusion energy.
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