This month signifies a pivotal moment for California and the trajectory of clean energy. With the enactment of Senate Bill 80 (SB80), the state has boldly pledged to expedite the advancement of fusion—the very process that fuels the sun—and to position itself as a leader in fulfilling America’s increasing energy requirements.
As energy demands rise, we are confronted with a vital challenge: providing power that is dependable, sustainable, and guarantees genuine energy independence. Fusion holds limitless possibilities to address this challenge while fostering economic growth and creating high-skilled jobs for future generations.
California stands at the forefront of fusion research and development, housing two renowned facilities: the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego, managed by General Atomics (GA) for the U.S. Department of Energy—the nation’s sole operational fusion tokamak user facility—and the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, backed by the National Nuclear Security Administration, which was the first globally to consistently achieve fusion ignition.
SB80 builds upon this legacy by instituting the Fusion Research and Development Innovation Initiative and establishing a dedicated fund aimed at accelerating breakthroughs, promoting commercialization, and bolstering California’s global leadership in fusion energy. This goes beyond legislation—it serves as a declaration to convert scientific advancements into tangible energy solutions.
Located in San Diego, we are perfectly positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. Institutions like UC San Diego and San Diego State University have been advancing fusion research for decades. Recent initiatives from the City of San Diego and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Council further aim to solidify our region as a nucleus for fusion research, engineering, and manufacturing.
At GA, we take pride in our significant contributions to the advancement of fusion across multiple fronts, including the delivery of precision target assemblies that have facilitated the National Ignition Facility’s breakthroughs and constructing the world’s most powerful pulsed superconducting magnet for the ITER experiment in France. More recently, we have partnered with UC San Diego to inaugurate the San Diego Fusion Data Science and Digital Engineering Center—bridging the gap between academia and industry to accelerate innovation through artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
SB80 acknowledges the urgency of transforming scientific achievements into commercial realities. It will attract investments, ignite innovation, and propel California and San Diego closer to realizing commercial fusion energy. The nation that pioneers fusion will shape the future of energy for humanity. Here in San Diego, we are diligently working towards that future—collaborating with our partners across government, academia, industry, and the national laboratories.
Media Contact:
Andrew James
Communications Lead
General Atomics Energy Group
andrew.james@ga.com
