Editing Fusion power (section)

== Regulation ==
As fusion pilot plants move within reach, legal and regulatory issues must be addressed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Holland|first=Andrew|date=November 13, 2020|title=Political and commercial prospects for inertial fusion energy|journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |volume=378|issue=2184|pages=20200008|doi=10.1098/rsta.2020.0008|pmid=33040662|bibcode=2020RSPTA.37800008H|s2cid=222277887|doi-access=free}}</ref> In September 2020, the United States [[National Academy of Sciences]] consulted with private fusion companies to consider a national pilot plant. The following month, the United States Department of Energy, the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] (NRC) and the [[Fusion Industry Association]] co-hosted a public forum to begin the process.<ref name="Space Race" /> In November 2020, the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) began working with various nations to create safety standards<ref name="Safety in Fusion">{{Cite web|date=May 28, 2021|title=Safety in Fusion|url=https://www.iaea.org/fusion-energy/safety-in-fusion|access-date=June 1, 2021|website=www.iaea.org|language=en}}</ref> such as dose regulations and [[radioactive waste]] handling.<ref name="Safety in Fusion" /> In January and March 2021, NRC hosted two public meetings on regulatory frameworks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Slesinski|first=Daniel|date=January 28, 2021|title=NRC Hosts Virtual Public Meeting on Developing Options for a Regulatory Framework for Fusion Energy|url=https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/post/nrc-hosts-virtual-public-meeting-on-developing-options-for-a-regulatory-framework-for-fusion-energy|access-date=February 14, 2021|website=Fusion Industry Assn|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Slesinski|first=Daniel|date=March 30, 2021|title=NRC Hosts Second Virtual Public Meeting on Developing a Regulatory Framework for Fusion Energy|url=https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/post/nrc-hosts-second-virtual-public-meeting-on-developing-a-regulatory-framework-for-fusion|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=Fusion Industry Assn|language=en}}</ref> A public-private cost-sharing approach was endorsed in the December 27 H.R.133 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which authorized $325 million over five years for a partnership program to build fusion demonstration facilities, with a 100% match from private industry.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holland|first=Andrew|date=January 5, 2021|title=Fusion Legislation Signed into Law|url=https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/post/fusion-legislation-signed-into-law|access-date=February 14, 2021|website=Fusion Industry Assn|language=en}}</ref>

Subsequently, the UK Regulatory Horizons Council published a report calling for a fusion regulatory framework by early 2022<ref>{{Cite web|last=Windridge|first=Melanie|title=U.K Serious About Fusion: New Report On Regulation Recommends Proportionate, Agile Approach|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniewindridge/2021/06/02/uk-serious-about-fusion-new-report-on-regulation-recommends-proportionate-agile-approach/|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> in order to position the UK as a global leader in commercializing fusion power.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holland|first=Andrew|date=June 1, 2021|title=UK Regulatory Horizons Council Issues Report on Fusion Energy Regulation|url=https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/post/uk-s-regulatory-horizons-council-issues-report-on-fusion-energy-regulation|access-date=June 21, 2021|website=Fusion Industry Assn|language=en|archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420002958/https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/post/uk-s-regulatory-horizons-council-issues-report-on-fusion-energy-regulation|url-status=dead}}</ref> This call was met by the UK government publishing in October 2021 both its ''Fusion Green Paper'' and its ''Fusion Strategy'', to regulate and commercialize fusion, respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1022540/towards-fusion-energy-uk-government-fusion-strategy.pdf |title=Towards Fusion Energy: The UK Government's Fusion Strategy |publisher=UK Government, Department for Business, Energy, & Industrial Strategy |year=2021 |location=London, UK |language=En}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Government sets out vision for UK's rollout of commercial fusion energy|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-vision-for-uks-rollout-of-commercial-fusion-energy|access-date=October 15, 2021|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=UK government publishes fusion strategy – Nuclear Engineering International|url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsuk-government-publishes-fusion-strategy-9129061|access-date=October 15, 2021|website=www.neimagazine.com|date=October 5, 2021 }}</ref> Then, in April 2023, in a decision likely to influence other nuclear regulators, the NRC announced in a unanimous vote that fusion energy would be regulated not as fission but under the same regulatory regime as particle accelerators.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holland |first=Andrew |date=April 14, 2023 |title=NRC Decision Separates Fusion Energy Regulation from Nuclear Fission |url=https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/post/nrc-decision-separates-fusion-energy-regulation-from-nuclear-fission |access-date=April 19, 2023 |website=Fusion Industry Assn |language=en}}</ref>

Then, in October 2023 the UK government, in enacting the Energy Act 2023, made the UK the first country to legislate for fusion separately from fission, to support planning and investment, including the UK's planned prototype fusion power plant for 2040; [[Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production|STEP]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=New laws passed to bolster energy security and deliver net zero |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-laws-passed-to-bolster-energy-security-and-deliver-net-zero |access-date=November 10, 2023 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> the UK is working with Canada and Japan in this regard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agile Nations: UK, Japan and Canada joint recommendations on fusion energy |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agile-nations-uk-japan-and-canada-joint-recommendations-on-fusion-energy |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> Meanwhile, in February 2024 the US House of Representatives passed the Atomic Energy Advancement Act, which includes the Fusion Energy Act, which establishes a regulatory framework for fusion energy systems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Fusion Caucus Celebrates House Passage of Bipartisan Fusion Energy Act |url=https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6086 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=U.S. Representative Don Beyer |language=en}}</ref>