On Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB) hosted a webinar where they explored fusion energy development across the Western Interconnection.
Fusion, the process that powers the sun and all stars in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one, releases vast amounts of energy, and it has long dangled the promise of being able to tap into a virtually limitless energy source. Fusion system’s technological development and investment have accelerated in recent years; however, what is the actual state of the industry, what hazards does the technology pose, and what kind of regulatory framework exists to mitigate risks? This brief sketches answers to these questions to aid Western state energy policymakers and regulators in understanding what could be a viable electricity generating source in the not-to-distant future.
To help frame the conversation, we invite you to review, Nuclear Fusion: A Policy Brief, a short paper that offers additional context for the discussion.
Speakers:
- Melanie K. Snyder, Nuclear Energy Policy Senior Program Manager, Western Interstate Energy Board
- Aaron Beard, Policy Analyst – Energy and Nuclear Programs, Western Interstate Energy Board
- Justin Cochran, Senior Nuclear Policy Advisor & Emergency Coordinator, California Energy Commission