Three articles, one on ITER milestones, one in praise of “Big Science” and one about Government audits illustrate the challenges of a mega fusion project.

Thanks to Michael Kanellos for a great overview of the Tri Alpha fusion project in Forbes.  Thanks to Mark Halper for further elaboration and broader context in Smart Planet.

Excellent fusion article by John Lippert in Bloomberg Markets Magazine today.

Please join us in developing a “Fusion Philanthropy App” to connect supportive people with fusion projects for the advancement of fusion.

More perspective on how little we spend on fusion research.

Charles Chase of Lockheed Martin presents an idea for a Compact 100 MW Nuclear Fusion at Google Solve for X.  The goal is 2018 for a full scale prototype and 2023 for Commercial system.

Let’s get a petition going around an Apollo style rally for fusion in 10 years.

ASP’s new White Paper report, “Fusion Power – A 10 Year Plan to Energy Security” provides a bold and detailed plan on how to accelerate the development of fusion power.  Help spread the word.  And tell us what you think!

Do you think the magnetic fusion program is too expensive?  Americans are spending almost as much on Halloween Pet costumes this year.

The world needs fusion energy. The fusion science community needs a broad base of public support to achieve fusion energy.  The public is made up of a variety of folks with a variety of needs that can be creatively addressed by engaging in a fusion quest.  The Fusion Energy League has a vision that pulls all of this together.  In order to realize this vision, we require financing.  Here are the financing FAQs:

Someone once said, “You’ll never crowd fund fusion.”  Someone else said, “I prefer soliciting funds for fusion from the Government, not from people.”

But we already crowdfund fusion:  The US Income Tax system is one of the most thoroughly designed and executed crowdfunding systems we have.  Government money is taxpayer money is people’s money. 

In February, the US President issued the FY2013 budget, which was an utter disaster for the US fusion program. 

Fusion supporters:  Were you thrilled when you heard the House Restored the Fusion Budget?  Were you crushed when you heard the Senate kept it at the initial level?  Welcome to bungee budget!

The House Appropriations Committee has released its official markup (pdf) of the Energy, Water and Appropriations Bill, with a large increase in fusion research funding.  [See also:  Statement by Chairman of the Committee on restoring the fusion budget].

Great news out of Washington:  The House of Representatives Subcommittee has marked up the FY 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to restore fusion.
[Update: The Official Markup has been released.]