Laboratory for Laser Energetics receives increased level of federal funding

March 18, 2022

The University of Rochester'sLaboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is set to receive $83 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2022. The fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill released by the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on March 9 included this funding, which is a $1 million increase over fiscal year 2021 funding.

President Biden is expected to sign this bill into law shortly, which also includes $580 million for the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program at the National Nuclear Security Administration. The ICF program supports three major, world-leading research facilities: the OMEGA Laser Facility at the LLE, the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Z Facility at Sandia National Laboratory. About 80 percent of ICF's experiments are conducted at the LLE.

University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf issued the following statement as part of the recent funding announcement from senators Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, and US congressman Joseph Morelle:

"I want to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Representative Joe Morelle for their tremendous efforts and longstanding support for the University's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. It is thanks to their leadership that LLE remains the US Department of Energy's largest university-based program in the nation and home to two of the largest and most capable lasers at any academic institution in the world. This funding strengthens LLE's significant contributions to national security, scientific education and leadership, and regional innovation and growth."

Read the full funding announcement online.

Tags: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, research funding

Category: University News