If the US is ever successfully to compete with China for global supremacy in the field of artificial intelligence and other technological advances, much of it will depend on the massive amounts of inexpensive, clean energy to generate the electricity required, helped by the two generous oceans on either side of the US that offer more than enough hydrogen for an endless supply.
China, in a race to displace the US as the world's leading superpower, has already invested more than$13 billionsince 2023 developing fusion energy, and has exported a tokamak (a magnetic plasma confinement reactor) toThailand.
President Donald J. Trump, farsightedly as always, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, have seen that what is usually meant by "nuclear reactors" --fissionenergy -- simply are not providing enough energy for the US to remain the world's leader in AI and technology.
Last October, less than a year into Trump's second term, Wright and his Department of Energy published a landmark report: "Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap". Whoever might be interested in this new frontier technology should download and study this groundbreaking text, the next advancement in the 21stcentury's "technological revolution."
This roadmap -- compiled from the input of more than 600 researchers, engineers and industry stakeholders -- documents the nation's strategy to complete the development and commercialization of fusion energy within ten years.
The report lays out the administration's plan to combine public investment with private sector innovation for a "three-pillar" approach to achieving its mid-2030s goal:Buildcritical infrastructure;innovatethrough accelerating fusion research along with AI, andgrowthrough investments in public-private partnerships, increased manufacturing, strong supply chains, and training workers in the field.
US companies have already received more than $9 billion in private equity investment, according to the report, and the Department of Energy is working to coordinate its existing 17 National Laboratories with private sector companies, universities, and other partners, for research and supporting commercialization
Nuclear fusion is yet another historic, trailblazing opportunity that Trump and his team are initiating for the race against China and for the future of America. Our best and brightest will surely be taking full advantage of it.
Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.
Source: Gatestone Institute :: Articles
