42 U.S.C. § 13474 — Fusion energy

(a) Program. The Secretary^* had to run a 5-year fusion energy program, following sections 13541 and 13542, that by the year 2010 would produce a technology demonstration proving fusion can be used to make commercial electric power.

(b) Program goals. The goals include: (1) a broad fusion energy program; (2) U.S. participation in the Engineering Design Activity of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program and related research and technology work; (3) developing fusion power technology, with industry taking part in that development; (4) designing and building a major new machine for fusion research and technology development, consistent with goals (2) and (3); and (5) research and development on Inertial Confinement Fusion Energy, including developing a Heavy Ion Inertial Confinement Fusion experiment.

(c) Management plan. Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary had to write a full management plan for the fusion energy program, including specific objectives, milestones and schedules for developing the technology, and cost and resource estimates. The plan also had to describe: (A) U.S. participation in ITER's Engineering Design Activity, including industry's role; (B) possible U.S. participation in building and running an ITER facility; and (C) what it would take to build and test an inertial fusion energy reactor for producing power. As part of the plan, the Secretary had to assess international fusion programs and decide whether the federal government should strengthen existing international fusion cooperation agreements or make new ones to achieve this section's goals. The plan also had to assess how much university or private-sector involvement is appropriate or needed to carry out this section's purposes. Each year, the President's budget submission to Congress (under section 1105 of title 31) had to include a report from the Secretary describing progress toward the plan's objectives, milestones, and schedules — plus the program's organization, staff, funds, and spending. This report had to go along with the plan required under section 13523.

(d) Authorization of appropriations. Congress authorized $339,710,000 for fiscal year 1993 and $380,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 for this section.