(a)
Declaration of policy
It shall be the policy of the United States to conduct research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications to provide for the scientific, engineering, and commercial infrastructure necessary to ensure that the United States is competitive with other countries in providing fusion energy for its own needs and the needs of other countries, including by demonstrating electric power or hydrogen production for the United States energy grid using fusion energy at the earliest date.
(b)
Planning
(1)
In general
Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan (with proposed cost estimates, budgets, and lists of potential international partners) for the implementation of the policy described in subsection (a) in a manner that ensures that—
(A)
existing fusion research facilities are more fully used;
(B)
fusion science, technology, theory, advanced computation, modeling, and simulation are strengthened;
(C)
new magnetic and inertial fusion research and development facilities are selected based on scientific innovation and cost effectiveness, and the potential of the facilities to advance the goal of practical fusion energy at the earliest date practicable;
(D)
facilities that are selected are funded at a cost-effective rate;
(E)
communication of scientific results and methods between the fusion energy science community and the broader scientific and technology communities is improved;
(F)
inertial confinement fusion facilities are used to the extent practicable for the purpose of inertial fusion energy research and development;
(G)
attractive alternative inertial and magnetic fusion energy approaches are more fully explored; and
(H)
to the extent practicable, the recommendations of the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee in the report on workforce planning, dated March 2004, are carried out, including periodic reassessment of program needs.
(2)
Costs and schedules
The plan shall also address the status of and, to the extent practicable, costs and schedules for—
(A)
the design and implementation of international or national facilities for the testing of fusion materials; and
(B)
the design and implementation of international or national facilities for the testing and development of key fusion technologies.