More Information Video clips of Gov. Schwarzenegger's news conference Windows Media format Quicktime format National Ignition Facility NIF online press kit LIFE (Laser Inertial-Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy) Super Laser at the National Ignition Facility KQED Quest April 15, 2008 Preparing for the X Games of Science Science & Technology Review, 2007 NIF photos on Flickr

Contact: Lynda Seaver   Phone: (925) 423-3103   E-mail: seaver1@llnl.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2008 NR-08-11-01

Schwarzenegger touts energy innovations at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility

LIVERMORE, Calif. – As the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) approaches completion, researchers are preparing for the scientific grand challenges of providing limitless clean fusion-based energy, national security and understanding the science of the cosmos.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is briefed while standing in front of the National Ignition Facility's 10-meter diameter target chamber. From left, LLNL director George Miller; Bruce Goodwin, principal associate director for Weapons and Complex Integration directorate; Susan Kennedy, governor's chief of staff; the governor, Edward Moses, principal associate director of the National Ignition Facility; George Shultz, former United States Secretary of State. Click for high resolution image

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the stadium-sized NIF facility Monday for briefings on its missions. NIF, the world’s largest laser, was constructed under the auspices of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. NIF is 99 percent complete and is scheduled for completion in March 2009. Shortly thereafter, U.S. scientists will begin experiments preparing for fusion ignition, the energy source that powers the sun and the stars.

While at the National Ignition Facility, the Governor was briefed on LIFE. LIFE (Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy) is an energy production concept that will use a laser system similar to NIF that could be used to generate abundant carbon-free electricity far into the foreseeable future.

“An aggressive development of this technology could lead to a LIFE pilot power generation plant in the 2020 timeframe followed by commercial deployment in the following 10 years,” said Ed Moses, who heads up the NIF and is a leader in the development of LIFE.

After his tour and news conference, the governor met again with a crowd of photographers and reporters, to answer additional questions. Click for high resolution image

“This laser technology has the potential to revolutionize our energy future,” Gov. Schwarzenegger said. “If successful, this new endeavor could generate thousands of megawatts of carbon-free nuclear power but without the drawbacks of conventional nuclear plants. This type of innovation is why we are a world leader in science, technology and clean energy, and I could not be prouder that this work is happening right here in California.”

In the next few years NIF will take the next major step toward realizing LIFE power production by completing the first demonstration of fusion ignition in the laboratory. Laser-fusion has been a grand challenge of scientists around the world for 50 years, since the invention of the laser. Moses said, “Now we are within reach of attempting this goal.”

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