Energy Dominance: The Way Forward
Hello, I’m Ylli Bajraktari, CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project. In this edition of our newsletter, we announce early registration for the AI Expo in June 2025, and SCSP’s Fusion Team (Abby Kukura, Nina Badger, Caleb Barnes, and Nicholas Furst) discuss today’s exciting release of the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy’s Preliminary Report.
A Watershed Moment for American Energy
SCSP’s Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy released its preliminary report—a bold roadmap for ushering in a new era of commercial fusion power. The report sets a National Fusion Goal and outlines a three-pronged strategy to secure American leadership in fusion energy within the next decade.
A Bipartisan Kickoff
Co-chaired by Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari, the bipartisan Commission unites leaders from National Labs, private industry, government, the energy sector, and venture capital. Launched in September 2024, the Commission has hit the ground running with dynamic working groups, expert briefings, and a high-profile plenary session in January.
Fusion: The Power of the Future
Fusion—the process that powers the Sun—offers an energy-abundant future. It promises a clean, domestic energy source powered by a fuel supply that could last a billion years and a market potentially worth $1 trillion by 2050. Beyond energy independence, leadership in fusion would give America vital geopolitical leverage, cementing its role as a technological superpower and a net energy exporter in a world of fierce competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
At a time when energy demands are surging—driven by AI data centers and rapid technological advances—the synergy between fusion and AI is set to ignite a virtuous cycle of innovation that propels U.S. leadership across advanced industries.
A Tale of Two Strategies
A comparison of the United States and PRC fusion efforts, briefly summarized below, paints a worrying picture. It is a story that has played out across other hardware-intensive sectors—like lithium-ion batteries and commercial drones—where ‘America the Inventor’ falls behind ‘China the Builder’ when a technology becomes ripe for commercialization.
United States
America leads in fusion research—home to the National Ignition Facility at LLNL, the only machine to ever achieve fusion ignition and energy gain. Over half of the world’s fusion startups are American, attracting the lion’s share of global investment. However, scientific challenges, infrastructure gaps, workforce shortages, and the absence of government demand signals are holding back commercial breakthroughs.
China
China’s fusion efforts are ramping up fast. The United States developed an infrastructure plan, but China has made significant strides in its actual execution. Beijing is aggressively building capacity—including a $700 million Comprehensive Research Facilities for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) campus and other secretive projects—with public funding levels double those of the United States. Beijing’s commitment underscores the urgency for the United States to act.
Bold Recommendations for U.S. Leadership
To translate this ambition into action, the report calls for a National Fusion Goal of starting construction on the world’s first commercial fusion power plant this decade.
“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.”
Achieving the National Fusion Goal would solidify the United States as the world's leader in fusion energy, and catalyze a thriving and ultimately self-sustaining commercial fusion industry. The strategy for achieving the national goal rests on three pillars:
National Security Priority: The President should declare fusion a national security priority with an executive order launching a 90-day action plan to mobilize agencies and funding immediately.
DOE Fusion Lead: Appoint a “Fusion Lead” in the Department of Energy, reporting directly to the Secretary, to coordinate fusion efforts across government and drive the national goal.
Strategic Investment: Invest $10 billion to de-risk private sector pilot plants, build essential research facilities, and develop domestic supply chains. This strategic infusion will kick-start a self-sustaining fusion industry, alongside sustained basic research to nurture the next generation of fusion breakthroughs.
From Vision to Reality
The preliminary report sets the stage for more detailed recommendations in a final report to be released later this year. It is a call to action for government, industry, and like-minded international partners to collaborate on this transformative opportunity.
On his first day as Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright called fusion a “true technological breakthrough” essential for America’s global competitiveness. The Commission’s strategy shows that with an empowered leader, a clear goal, and smart investment, the fusion market can more than just pay for itself: it would prove that 21st-century America not only innovates, but builds the future.
Episode 69 of NatSecTech with Fusion Commissioners Paul Dabbar and Mark Menezes
Enjoy the first of three NatSec Tech podcasts featuring Fusion Commissioners. In this episode, Jeanne Meserve hosts the Honorable Paul Dabbar and the Honorable Mark Menezes for a discussion on just how high the stakes are for fusion energy.
This week, SCSP will be at the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) Conference! The agenda will feature a panel of commissioners to discuss the Commission and the findings from our preliminary report. We hope to see you there!
For the full preliminary report and additional releases from the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy, visit the website here.
Good post.