Fusion energy data centers.

Senator McNerney's fusion energy data center legislation directs the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to establish an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy for a new research facility supporting California's fusion energy sector. The proposed center would provide public and private researchers access to supercomputing capabilities and standardized data management systems for fusion energy projects.

The data center would operate under specific parameters requiring public availability of research data while maintaining protections for security and intellectual property rights. The facility must be located at an existing fusion energy research site with adequate energy supply capacity and infrastructure to handle large datasets. The legislation allows for leveraging federal matching funds when available to support the center's establishment and operations.

California currently hosts one-third of U.S. fusion energy startups and employs over 20,000 workers in fusion-related positions across national laboratories, universities, and research institutions. The data center aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy's strategy to develop a commercial fusion pilot plant in the 2030s, as outlined in the department's Decadal Fusion Energy Strategy. This initiative connects to California's broader energy goals under Senate Bill 100, which requires renewable and zero-carbon resources to supply all retail electricity sales by 2045.