Bill > S673

This bill establishes a New England Fusion Research Compact among Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut to advance nuclear fusion energy research. The Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs will develop a comprehensive framework for the compact, which includes creating a plan to obtain regulatory approvals, secure financing, and potentially operate one or more nuclear fusion reactors. The bill mandates the creation of a Fusion Research Council composed of key government officials and appointed members representing higher education institutions (including UMass and MIT), employers, labor, nuclear energy research, and taxpayers. The secretary will solicit participation from member states, with each state designating its own representatives. The bill requires the secretary to submit a detailed plan to the Senate within 12 months and file quarterly progress reports to various legislative committees, including cost estimates and recommendations for advancing the compact's mission. The compact's financial contributions will be structured to ensure fair participation from each member state, with potential funding from sources like the U.S. Department of Energy and possibly through assessments on regulated energy companies.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S673