Governor beams during Laboratory tour

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the National Ignition Facility Monday and held a press conference to discuss the nearly completed laser and applications, particularly the Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion-Fission Energy project, or LIFE.

The governor said LIFE could help the state’s future energy needs while simultaneously decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. Schwarzenegger said fusion energy would not only assist the state in meeting future energy demands, but also would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that negatively impact climate.

"This fusion energy which creates no greenhouse gases is really gigantic," he said. "I can’t wait for this to become a reality here. It would provide so much energy. We’re talking here about power thousands more watts than lighting up the whole United States. For us to be at the forefront of this in California is really terrific."

LIFE would lead to sustainable, carbon-free energy that is safe and drastically shrinks the nation’s and world’s inventories of nuclear waste.

Director George Miller introduced Schwarzenegger and talked briefly about the National Ignition Facility (NIF).

"NIF represents the culmination of more than 50 years worth of effort by the scientists of the world to create fusion in the Laboratory," he said. "We’re talking about building a miniature sun in the Laboratory and this puts us on a path for remarkable capabilities in the future, including the possibility of limitless clean energy."

Schwarzenegger said he is very interested in creating more renewable energy for the state. "This is one of the things we need in this state and we can move forward with creating great energy," he said. "Within the next 10 to 12 years, they will have a demonstration up and running, and all of these new developments are happening in our great state."

Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz toured the NIF with the governor and also has been consulting him on energy issues during his administration.

"This is a place where really first class science is taking place all the time," Shultz said. "When you look at the results, you see that science is, in many respects, the key to our future. Science is something that deserves support because in the end science will support us and our future."