SB 327 aims to create a cutting-edge, fusion energy data center in California that would foster research, collaboration and data-sharing, and establish data standards for clean energy technology.
Press Release

McNerney Introduces Legislation to Accelerate Fusion Technology, a Clean-Energy Game-Changer

State Senator Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, on Monday introduced SB 327, new legislation that is designed to boost fusion energy technology, which has the potential to produce unlimited amounts of clean power.

SB 327 aims to create a cutting-edge, fusion energy data center in California that would foster research, collaboration and data-sharing, and establish data standards for clean energy technology. 

SB 327 is part of a package of legislation on fusion energy that Sen. McNerney is authoring or joint-authoring this year in an effort to strengthen and expand California’s nation-leading fusion energy sector.

“For decades, fusion energy was viewed as a distant promise of unlimited clean energy that might never be realized. But not anymore. Successful fusion ignition has already been achieved multiple times at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories in my Senate district — the only place in the world to do so. In addition, California leads the nation in fusion energy research and development, producing over 20,000 jobs,” Sen. McNerney said. “With SB 327 and the other fusion legislation this year, California will maintain and grow its leadership position with this game-changing energy source.”

Nuclear fusion energy mimics the power of the sun by combining atoms to produce clean energy. Unlike nuclear fission energy, fusion is safe. It does not produce long-lived radioactive nuclear waste and has no risk of nuclear accidents.

California is home to one-third of the fusion energy startup companies in the nation, supporting more than 20,000 jobs at national laboratories, national user facilities, the University of California system, the California State University system, and other academic institutions, and leveraging billions of dollars in public and private investments. 

But other states are starting to catch up. For example, a few months ago, the world’s first fusion energy facility was announced to be built in Virginia. 

The other legislation in this year’s fusion energy package that Sen. McNerney is authoring or joint-authoring include:

  • SCR 25 by Senators Catherine Blakespear and McNerney, which sets a goal of establishing a first-of-a-kind fusion pilot plant in the state by the 2030s. SCR 25 has its first hearing on Monday afternoon in the Senate Energy Committee.
  • SB 80 by Senators Caballero and McNerney, which would create a fusion energy hub within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
  • SB 86 by Senator McNerney, which would expand a state green energy tax incentive program to include fusion.

SB 327 would direct the California Energy Commission to initiate an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a fusion energy data center in California that:

  • Allows public and private researchers to access a supercomputer to conduct fusion energy research projects.
  • Accepts data from public and private researchers and establishes data standards for submittal.
  • Requires data to be publicly available, subject to security protections, intellectual property rights, and data rights.

 

Sen. Jerry McNerney is chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee and his 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and Alameda County’s Tri-Valley.