On Jun 24, 9:45*am, Jim Pennino wrote:

I'm aware of ITER and the fact that *IF* ITER is a success, you can
expect an operational fusion power plant no earlier than 2040, by
which time a good percentage of current posters, including myself,
will be long dead.

I don't see why the long time until payback is an issue. My attitude
is that we've already squandered enough of our grandkids' resources,
the very least we can do is throw them a bone. Comparing the risk/
benefit ratio of ITER with that of other current nonsense like the war
in Iraq, it seems like a no-brainer to me.

And even if ITER doesn't meet full success, the lessons of its failure
will drive all sorts of different technology innovations.

Thanks, Bob K.