Lofgren Leads Committee Effort on ITER
Signaling a renewed commitment to fusion energy research, Members of the House Committee on Science urged the Secretary of Energy to take steps towards participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). "Investments in alternative energy sources are vital to the future economic and environmental interests of the United States. We must lead the effort to develop fusion as a source of energy," said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). "U.S. participation in ITER will demonstrate to the world that we understand there are limited sources of energy in the world, and investments are needed now to help develop energy alternatives for our future."
In the January 28 letter, Committee Member Lofgren and Ranking Member Ralph M. Hall (D-TX), joined by Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Members George R. Nethercutt Jr. (R-WA) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), asked the Secretary to fund participation in, and rejoin ongoing negotiations for, partnership in ITER.
ITER will be an international research facility exploring the potential for a commercial source of fusion energy; current partners include the European Union, Japan and Canada.
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