Senator Cantwell Voices Support for Semiconductor Inclusion in CHIPS for America Fund

On June 30, Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter to Secretary Gina Raimondo, US Department of Commerce, on the importance of power semiconductors being included in the CHIPS for America Fund, based on the need for the growing fusion industry.

Senator Cantwell, a longtime fusion champion, voices the need for semiconductor provisions within the Fund, citing recent increases in fusion development at the policy, industry, and regulatory levels. She underlines the need for semiconductors in many fusion approaches, as pulsed fusion relies on the technology to transfer large amounts of current in short periods of time. Power semiconductors are an expensive and vital component, but similar to other microchips, a bulk of manufacturing has moved overseas. Senator Cantwell urges onshore semiconductor manufacturing in order to “ensure that our nation’s leadership in fusion innovation and commercialization translate into substantial and concrete benefits to America’s future growth, security, and prosperity.”

“With over $5 billion in private investment to date, and several fusion energy companies already building, or planning to build, millions of square feet of domestic manufacturing space in the United States, I am concerned that the lack of adequate supplies of domestically manufactured power semiconductors will slow or inhibit the commercialization of some incredibly promising fusion approaches. Onshore power semiconductor manufacturing would also facilitate domestic manufacturing and deployment of other products in the national interest including high voltage power lines, electric vehicles and charging stations, aluminum smelting and refining, and a number of cutting-edge national defense applications.”

You can read Senator Cantwell’s full letter here or below.