Special Competitive Studies Project’s Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy Releases Preliminary Report

Arlington, VA, February 24, 2025—The Special Competitive Studies Project’s (SCSP) Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy released its preliminary report, “Fusion Power: Enabling 21st Century American Dominance,” today. The preliminary report is a strategy argument for fusion power, emphasizing the role of fusion in ensuring U.S. energy independence, economic stability, and technological leadership, with initial recommendations of steps that should be taken to prepare for the era of commercial fusion power.

“Fusion could provide vast amounts of the type of power we need to keep electricity prices down and increase America’s economic competitiveness,” said Commission Co-Chair Senator Maria Cantwell. “This preliminary report provides a roadmap for how the United States could lead the world in fusion commercialization in order to meet our growing electricity demand, lower emissions, and increase export opportunities.”

“American ingenuity and exploration of emerging technologies like fusion are critical to maintaining our role as a global leader in energy production,” said Commission Co-Chair Senator James Risch. “The Commission’s work to identify opportunities in the United States for large-scale, commercial power generation from fusion is vital to strengthening America’s energy and national security.”

“Our initial recommendations demand bold investment and unwavering resolve—far less costly than the catastrophic price of inaction,” said Commission Co-Chair and SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari. “Fusion energy can meet the power demands of the AI era, and AI will supercharge fusion research. China is organizing to leverage both of these technologies for its geopolitical ambitions, and it will succeed in doing so if the United States does not act now.”

The Commission’s recommendations are organized into three categories:

• Declare Fusion a National Security Priority: The United States should prioritize fusion energy development. A presidential executive order should articulate a National Fusion Goal and establish a national fusion strategy led by the Department of Energy (DOE), with a 90-day action plan to streamline regulations, organize public and private stakeholders, and align the necessary resources. This will ensure US leadership in fusion energy, which is vital for national prosperity and security.
• Establish Fusion Leadership and Drive Commercialization: A political appointee at the DOE should be appointed as the national "Fusion Lead" and be empowered to implement the Fusion Executive Order (EO). This senior leader should report to the Secretary and oversee existing DOE fusion commercialization programs, develop the 90-day action plan, and dismantle bureaucratic obstacles.
• Strategic Investment to Win the Fusion Race: The United States will not be able to achieve fusion power unless it invests in the fundamental building blocks of commercial fusion: infrastructure, supply chain, and talent. To outpace China, the United States should make a one-time investment towards these strategic assets, de-risk multiple commercial fusion pathways, and sustain basic research to cultivate the next generation of fusion science.

The 13-member Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy, first announced in Fall 2023 at SCSP’s Global Emerging Technology Summit, aims to position the United States not only as the leader in fusion science but also in its scaling as the technology matures. The Commission will hold sessions throughout 2025, culminating in its final report.

This effort represents a step towards ensuring U.S. leadership in a transformative technology, with implications for national security, economic prosperity, and energy independence. The Commission’s work will lay the foundation for a future where fusion energy could be the key pillar of global energy infrastructure.

For more information about the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy, please contact Tara Rigler at tmr@scsp.ai. For more information about SCSP, visit our website, and subscribe for newsletter and podcast updates.