Successful Fusion Demonstration Is a “Big Deal” That Shows the Value of Government Support for Innovation, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON—Following the announcement of the first nuclear fusion reaction that resulted in a net energy gain, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Ed Rightor, director of ITIF’s Center for Clean Energy Innovation:

Surpassing breakeven energy production with nuclear fusion is a big deal. Research teams around the world have been working on this immense challenge for decades. The Lawrence Livermore lab’s achievement shows that persistent innovation and government support for basic sciences and engineering can lead to clean energy breakthroughs.

It will take many years to scale up the technology to provide reliable, safe, and economically viable power, but reaching this phenomenal landmark provides the foundation for further success. ITIF applauds the scientists and engineers and their colleagues at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for their achievement.