US senators from both parties introduced legislation on 18 April to accelerate development of nuclear fusion power plants, which they say have the potential to produce abundant clean electricity without harmful side effects like carbon emissions or long-lived radioactive waste.

The bill, known as the Fusion Energy Act, was introduced by senators Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and others.

The legislation would ensure the development of a tailored regulatory framework geared towards supporting the growth of commercial fusion. It would also require the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to report to Congress within a year about licensing commercial fusion plants.