Energy powers the economy. Harnessing fusion—the same process the sun uses to create energy—could transform the U.S. economy by providing a reliable, low-risk, low-waste power source that is flexible enough to meet essentially all our electricity needs. This form of dispatchable, baseload power generation would address many of the limitations of existing clean energy sources while avoiding the harmful pollution and emissions from fossil fuel power plants. 

While still far from deployment, the technology advancement needed to make fusion energy a reality is no longer only a scientist’s dream. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) produced an important breakthrough in December 2022 that lays the groundwork for the next stages of fusion research and development. The urgency for clean energy sources is dire. To accelerate the jump from lab to commercial use, public-private sector collaboration is essential to address our significant energy, climate, and security needs and bring about fusion commercialization. Congressional fusion energy caucuses in both the House and Senate are building on recent legislation and regulatory clarity to drive support for this revolutionary technology. 

Fusion is a long-term sustainable energy source with low risk and little waste

Fusion is the same process that stars use to generate energy

All stars, including the sun, release huge amounts of energy by combining two light atomic nuclei to form a single heavier one. Fusion energy systems here on Earth would not depend on external variables like whether the sun is shining or whether wind is blowing to maintain their energy production. Therefore, commercial-scale fusion could serve as important baseload power on a decarbonized energy grid. Producing fusion energy also creates no carbon pollution or long-lived nuclear waste from spent fuel.

The most promising fusion fuels (deuterium and tritium) are isotopes of hydrogen—the most abundant element in the universe. Deuterium is naturally abundant from seawater. While tritium is less common, it can be produced using the more common element lithium and could potentially be generated as part of self-sufficient fusion power plants. Fuel needs are minimal—for example, a bathtub of water and two laptop batteries are enough fuel to provide power for a person’s entire lifetime. The graphic below shows how one of these reactions produces energy without the same harmful pollution from burning fossil fuels.