Fusion Power Associates
2 Professional Drive, Suite 248
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
phone: (301) 258-0545
fax: (301) 975-9869
e-mail: fpa@compuserve.com
web: http://fusionpower.org

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FPN02-58

Orbach Wants Fusion Electricity

September 11, 2002

Speaking to his Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC) at its meeting September 11, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Director Raymond Orbach called upon them "to develop a plan with the end goal of the start of operation of a demonstration power plant in approximately 35 years." The plan, he said, "should recognize the capabilities of all fusion facilities around the world, and include both magnetic fusion energy (MFE) and inertial fusion energy (IFE), as both MFE and IFE provide major opportunities for moving forward with fusion energy. He asked for a preliminary report by December 1, 2002 and "a more detailed plan" by March 2003 "or earlier."

Orbach told the meeting that it was his belief that the primary justification for fusion power was environmental, i.e., the need for power sources that did not contaminate the atmosphere. He also said he wanted fusion power plants that would be "environmentally benign or as close as possible to it."

Orbach said that the reason he was pressing the FESAC for a response by early December was that he wants "to give the President by mid-December the full scientific picture of how to get from here to there (fusion power)." He said he wanted "some guidelines as to the path." He said he thought "these were historic times for the fusion program" and commended FESAC for its efforts.