Timothy Penny: “at the outset, I want to compliment the gentleman for his excellent presentation on the issue of fusion research. This…”

“at the outset, I want to compliment the gentleman for his excellent presentation on the issue of fusion research. This country has not handled its energy policy nearly as well as it should. Here, almost 20 years after the initial oil shock, we are addicted to oil as ever. We import, frankly, more oil today than we did 20 years ago, and we have done precious little to seriously explore energy alternatives in the past 20 years. Fusion may be an option for the future, if it is the right kind of fusion, if it is environmentally safe, but as you have pointed out so eloquently this evening, even in that area we seem to have had a misguided or misdirected notion of the sort of research in this arena that best fits our Nation's future needs. I simply want to assure him that as he uses his influence within Congress to address that issue that he certainly will have my support, because I believe we can do better, smarter research in this area and maybe save a few dollars in the bargain.”