TRENTON — State Senator Joe Pennacchio, R-Morris, Passaic, is calling on the administration and legislative leaders to put New Jersey at the forefront of commercial production of fusion energy.
“Fusion, unlike the current nuclear fission production of energy, fuses atoms together rather than splitting them apart. The collision and joining of those atoms create a tremendous amount of energy. Unlike current nuclear fission, fusion energy can provide us with limitless, inexpensive, and safe production of energy without the issue of radioactive by-products,” Pennacchio said.
Pennacchio pointed to Carlos Paz-Soldan, director of the Columbia Fusion Research Center at Columbia University, who has called for a Manhattan-style program for the development of commercial fusion energy in the United States.
“New Jersey, once a leader in fusion research, should take a leadership role in fusion development and commercialization,” Pennacchio said.
Pennacchio said fusion offers a limitless, inexpensive, safe and environmentally friendly way of eventually meeting the nation’s energy needs.
“Fusion energy is not a theoretical concept anymore, it is real. We in New Jersey should take advantage of that,” Pennacchio said.
According to Paz-Soldan, China spent $6.5 billion on fusion projects in 2023, while the United States spent about $800 million.
“It’s unfortunate that it takes an energy crisis like shutting down the Straits of Hormuz for the United States to start focusing on a vital energy alternative and solution,” Pennacchio said.
Pennacchio has introduced a number of bills in the Senate to encourage the research and application of fusion energy in New Jersey. He pointed to Virginia, which recently appropriated $1 million to secure the world’s first commercial fusion power plants.
“This is a non-partisan issue which all sides can agree on. Let’s restore New Jersey once again as being a leader in fusion research and development,” Pennacchio said.
