California Enacts Legislation to Accelerate Fusion Energy and Invests $30 Million in Quantum Research

Pleasanton, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom visited a research facility at the University of California, Berkeley, to enact legislation aimed at expanding California's fusion energy framework and evaluating advanced nuclear power, while authorizing $30 million in state funding for quantum science development.

Under Senate Bill 925, the state will create a strategic plan to guide commercial fusion energy, advance domestic equipment manufacturing, and establish certification and environmental review standards. A companion measure, Assembly Bill 2647, mandates a comprehensive assessment with public input examining how new nuclear power facilities and advanced reactor designs could help California achieve 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045.

"California has made substantial progress towards its climate goals. But fusion energy has the potential to provide nearly limitless clean, safe, and reliable power, while creating an economic ecosystem that will rival Silicon Valley." — Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton)

To bolster quantum science, the state budget directs $30 million toward advanced quantum and deep-space research while expanding commercial alliances and entrepreneurial hubs. The new funding builds on the Quantum California consortium initiated in 2025, which unites university campuses, national laboratories, and commercial developers to advance quantum computing, unhackable quantum networks, and quantum sensing tools.

"Nuclear energy is the United States’ largest source of clean power, supplying nearly 20% of the nation’s electricity while avoiding over 470 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions." — Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier)

In Pleasanton and the broader Tri-Valley region, the legislative measures connect directly to local institutions. Senate Bill 925 was authored by local state Sen. Jerry McNerney, whose district includes Pleasanton. In addition, the neighboring city of Livermore hosts Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where researchers at the National Ignition Facility achieved the historic first laboratory fusion ignition in December 2022.

Fusion technology mirrors the physical reactions that fuel the sun, offering a potential avenue for clean electricity generation to complement ongoing state efforts supporting scientific workforce training and high-tech manufacturing.

Sources: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom (September 30, 2026): https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/30/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-accelerate-californias-fusion-industry-announces-major-investment-for-quantum-research/