PENNACCHIO AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR BOTH ADVOCATE FOR FUSION ENERGY
August 10, 2026, 9:32 am | in
PENNACCHIO AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR BOTH ADVOCATE FOR FUSION ENERGY
August 10, 2026
Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris,Passaic), a champion of fusion development in New Jersey, is calling on the Administration and legislative leaders to once again put New Jersey at the forefront of commercial production of fusion energy.
“Fusion, unlike the current nuclear fission production of energy, fuses atoms together rather than splitting them apart. The collision and joining of those atoms create a tremendous amount of energy. Unlike current nuclear fission, fusion energy can provide us with limitless, inexpensive, and safe production of energy without the issue of radioactive by-products,” said Senator Pennacchio.
“Carlos Paz-Soldan, the Director of the Columbia Fusion Research Center at Columbia University recently called for a Manhattan-style program for the development of commercial energy in the United States,” said Senator Pennacchio. “New Jersey, once a leader in fusion research, should take a leadership role in fusion development and commercialization.”
Senator Pennacchio pointed out that fusion offers a limitless, inexpensive, safe, and environmentally friendly way of eventually meeting our energy needs.
“Fusion energy is not a theoretical concept anymore, it is real. We in New Jersey should take advantage of that,” said Senator Pennacchio.
Carlos Paz-Soldan points to China which in 2023 spent $6.5 billion for fusion projects while the United States has spent a mere $800 million.
“It’s unfortunate that it takes an energy crisis like shutting down the Straits of Hormuz for the United States to start focusing on a vital energy alternative and solution,” added Senator Pennacchio.
“This is a non-partisan issue which all sides can agree on. Let’s restore New Jersey once again as being a leader in fusion research and development,” concluded Senator Pennacchio.
