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PLAINSBORO: Plasma physics lab in line for funding

By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
   PLAINSBORO — Reps. Rush Holt (D-NJ-12) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ-11) visited the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Wednesday to announce that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to provide $76 million for fusion energy research.
   According to a press release from Mr. Holt’s office, the money supports PPPL and other energy research laboratories. Funding helps prevent cutbacks on research projects at PPPL and aids in protecting against staff reductions of up to 100 workers at the laboratory, according to the press release.
   Princeton University President Shirley Tilghman and Stewart Prager, the director of PPPL, hosted the visit of Mr. Holt and Mr. Frelinghuysen.”We are doing two very important things today,” said Ms. Tilghman. “We are celebrating the role that science, engineering and technology play in the improvement in human life, and most importantly we are here to say thank you to those who have been so supportive of what we are doing here at PPPL.”
   Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu and the Director of the Office of Science with the U.S. Department of Energy Bill Brinkman also came out to support the fight for fusion energy research and show appreciation for the congressmen.
   ”Representatives Holt and Frelinghuysen are second to none in congress in being champions for science,” said Mr. Prager. “They are pioneers in fighting for fusion energy and we can’t overstate the gratitude we have for both of them.”
   Both congressmen said thank you for the praise and were happy to show their support for PPPL.
   According to PPPL fact sheets, fusion occurs when two atomic nuclei combine at extremely high temperatures and release high amounts of energy. Fusion is a safe and virtually limitless source of energy for generating electricity that produces virtually no radioactive waste, according to PPPL.
   One of PPPL’s main fusion projects is the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). According to PPPL, the NSTX is a machine that generates fusion reactions. It is currently going through a $94 million upgrade that will double its current and heating capacity and the strength of the magnets it uses. According to PPPL, the work will be completed in 2015, and will make the upgraded NSTX (NSTX-U) the most powerful reactor of its type in the world. Planners hope to have a commercial fusion reactor in operation by 2050, which would use the heat produced by fusion to generate electricity, according to PPPL.
   ”This laboratory does the best work anywhere from the technicians and the equipment maintenance to the supportive staff, the PhD. physicists and the amazing engineers,” said Mr. Holt, who was the assistant director of the PPPL before he became a congressman. “It is top quality from top to bottom.”
   Mr. Holt also said that the work that PPPL does is especially admirable because it is science that is both applied and fundamental. He said the workers at the laboratory helped develop an entire field of physics while also working on a very practical problem.
   ”It’s ironic that this lab and the fusion program continue to have to struggle when the progress and profits are as great as anytime in the 60-year history of this lab,” said Mr. Holt.
   He explained that he gained bipartisan support in congress to write to Mr. Frelinghuysen for more funding for the fusion program. Mr. Holt said because Mr. Frelinghuysen is the chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, he felt Mr. Frelinghuysen would be the person who could do the most to address the issue.
   ”Part of my job is to be selfish about New Jersey, and Rush and I don’t apologize for looking after the PPPL,” said Mr. Frelinghuysen.
   ”Not only is the PPPL staff very good, but they have a dedication and devotion to a higher purpose,” said Mr. Holt. “They bring with them not just their expertise, but their dedication. It is absolutely appropriate that federal funds go toward this.”
   Mr. Frelinghuysen said that President Obama’s budget for fusion energy research fell short, so he worked to improve upon the funding. Since the appropriations process is not over yet, Mr. Frelinghuysen said everyone should continue to advocate for funding and senate action.
   ”So many countries have made a large investment in fusion research because they understand its importance for international energy security and because they understand how important this research is to the scientific infrastructure of their own countries,” said Mr. Holt. “We can’t overemphasize how much this lab and some other labs in this country have contributed to this overall technical and scientific excellence.”
   ”Science is sound, and the investment in this laboratory and sister laboratories is well-founded,” said Mr. Frelinghuysen.