Energy: Fusion Research and Development Innovation Hub Program.

Senators Caballero and McNerney's fusion energy initiative establishes three regional innovation hubs across California to accelerate the development of fusion technology, aiming to create the world's first fusion energy pilot plant in the state by the 2040s. The program, to be administered by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, designates research centers in Southern California, the Central Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area to advance fusion science and technology development.

The hubs will incorporate national laboratories, scientific facilities, and diverse approaches to fusion energy research, including magnetic confinement and inertial confinement methods. Each center must develop apprenticeship programs and academic partnerships to build a skilled workforce, while coordinating activities across a statewide network to facilitate a fusion energy economy. The commission will provide grants through a newly established Fusion Research and Development Fund to support research capabilities, technology commercialization, and projects aligned with California's clean energy objectives.

California currently hosts one-third of U.S. fusion energy startups and supports over 20,000 jobs in related research institutions. The program builds upon existing state initiatives, including the requirement for the commission to assess fusion energy's potential contribution to California's power supply in its 2027 integrated energy policy report. Implementation of the program remains contingent upon legislative appropriation through the annual Budget Act or separate legislation.