Fusion Power/Technology Prospects

["Michael P. Grissom" <mikeg@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

Radsafers,

For those interested in high energy reactions/neutrons as
power production technologies (and future HP positions),
the future is not bright.  The fusion program in the US (and
ITER internationally) are not progressing fast enough to
have the demonstration plant in place by 2050, and in fact
that "general goal" has essentially been abandoned.  The
following cross-posting from AIP-fyi may be of interest:

----------BeginFYI121096

The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 164: December 10, 1996

5-Year Objectives Drafted for DOE's Fusion Energy Sciences Program

Sixty representatives of the fusion community met for a three-day 
workshop in October.  Their task was to review the Fusion Energy 
Advisory Committee's (FEAC) recommendations for a restructured 
program (see FYIs #13-16, #147-148), and from that, to develop a plan 
for the Department of Energy's Fusion Energy Sciences Program for 
the next five years.  Participants based their assumptions on a constant 
level of funding for those years, and targeted their plan to the three 
FEAC (now FESAC) policy goals:  I) improving understanding of 
plasma physics; II) pursuing innovative development paths to fusion 
energy; and III) exploring burning plasmas as a partner in an 
international effort.