Alexander, Webb Introduce Bipartisan Clean Energy Legislation with Emphasis on Nuclear Energy Investment

Measure would create carbon-free energy sources in the U.S., invigorate economy, create jobs

Washington, DC - Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jim Webb (D-VA) today introduced “The Clean Energy Act of 2009,” a bipartisan bill to promote further investment and development of the nation’s clean energy technologies, including nuclear power and other resources. The Alexander-Webb bill is designed to invigorate the economy, create jobs, and move the United States toward providing clean, carbon-free sources of energy. 

“The Clean Energy Act of 2009” spends $20 billion over the next 10 to 20 years to fund a series of loan guarantees; nuclear education and workforce training assistance; research into nuclear reactor lifetime-extension; and the development of solar power, biofuels, and alternative power technologies. The bill follows the urging of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to increase funds available for the development of nuclear power facilities and technology.

“If we were going to war, we wouldn’t mothball our nuclear navy and start subsidizing sailboats. If addressing climate change and creating low-cost, reliable energy are national imperatives, we shouldn’t stop building nuclear plants and start subsidizing windmills,” said Senator Alexander. “This legislation will create the business and regulatory environment to double our country’s nuclear power production within 20 years and to launch five Mini-Manhattan projects to make advanced clean energy technologies effective and cost-competitive.”

“This legislation is measurable, achievable, and targeted.  By making a concerted investment in nuclear power and other renewable energy technologies, we can effectively address our nation’s energy requirements and also the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” said Senator Webb. “This legislation is a practical approach to move the United States toward providing clean, carbon-free sources of energy, to help invigorate the economy, and to strengthen our workforce with educational opportunities and high-paying jobs on U.S. soil.”

The legislation directs the Department of Energy to conduct five “Mini-Manhattan Projects” to study carbon capture technologies, non-ethanol biofuels, electric vehicles and electricity storage, cost-competitive solar power, and Generation IV reactors and technologies that will ultimately reduce nuclear waste

This initiative is also designed to keep the United States competitive in a global marketplace that has accelerated the development of nuclear power.  While the U.S. has been at a stand-still in developing nuclear power in the last 30 years, others are forging ahead. France – with the lowest electric rates in Europe - now gets 80% of its electricity from nuclear power, while Japan’s nuclear fleet accounts for 35% of its electricity. And this week the United Kingdom announced plans to expand its reactor fleet.

“The Clean Energy Act of 2009” provides a framework that will facilitate the revival of nuclear power and the expansion of renewable energies in the United States, including:

• A $10 billion appropriation that can leverage up to $100 billion in government backed loans for the development of clean, carbon-free energy to bring in investors and project developers to jump start efforts that are otherwise too capital-intensive up front.
• $100 million per year for 10 years toward nuclear education and training. The nuclear revival cannot take place without a workforce and for that reason the bill provides much-needed support to educate and train craftsmen, engineers, operators and other workers.
• $200 million per year for 5 years for a cost-sharing mechanism between government and industry to enable the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to review new nuclear reactor designs such as small and medium reactors and help bring those technologies from concept into the market place.
• $50 million per year for 10 years for much needed research to extend the lifetime of our current nuclear fleet and maximize the production of low-cost nuclear power.
• $750 million per year for 10 years for research and development of low-cost solar technology, battery technology, advanced bio-fuels, low-carbon coal, and technologies that will reduce nuclear waste.  Each of these will be funded at $150 million, annually.

Before introducing the legislation, Senators Alexander and Webb addressed an audience of 1,500 assembled for the American Nuclear Society’s winter conference.

To watch the video of Senator Webb’s floor statement, please click here.
For a fact sheet on the Clean Energy Act of 2009, please click here.

SUMMARY

The Clean Energy Act of 2009, introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jim Webb (D-VA) on November 16, 2009, will develop efficient clean energy technologies to meet America’s energy requirements, reduce carbon emissions, invigorate the economy and create American jobs.

This expansion of nuclear and alternative energies is do-able, reasonable in scope and cost, will go a very long way toward our eventual goal of dramatically reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and as a result, will be beneficial to our economy, to our national health, and to our international position.

WHY THIS LEGISLATION IS NEEDED

Expanding our use of nuclear energy is critical if we are to address the problem of climate change while providing for our growing energy needs.  Nuclear energy currently produces 70% of carbon-free power in the United States.

In addition to nuclear power, the bipartisan legislation will promote development of critical clean energy technologies: solar energy, battery technologies, next-generation biofuels, and breakthrough technologies to enable a cleaner utilization of coal.

This is an urgent matter, not only to produce affordable carbon-free power to meet tomorrow’s energy needs, but also to keep the United States competitive in a global market-place that is increasingly looking to expand nuclear power and alternative energies. 

This practical approach addresses our clean energy needs in a cost-effective manner, while jump-starting industries that will provide thousands of well-paying long-term jobs for the future. 

LEGISLATION: KEY INVESTMENTS IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

The Clean Energy Act of 2009 provides a framework that will facilitate the revival of nuclear power and the expansion of renewable energies in the United States. The bipartisan plan provides:

• A $10 billion authorization that can leverage up to $100 billion in government backed loans for the development of clean, carbon-free energy to bring in investors and project developers to jump start efforts that are otherwise too capital-intensive up front.
• $100 million per year for 10 years toward nuclear education and training. The nuclear revival cannot take place without a workforce and for that reason the bill provides much-needed support to educate and train craftsmen, engineers, operators and other workers.
• $200 million per year for 5 years for a cost-sharing mechanism between government and industry to enable the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to review new nuclear reactor designs such as small and medium reactors and help bring those technologies from concept into the market place.
• $50 million per year for 10 years for much needed research to extend the lifetime of our current nuclear fleet and maximize the production of low-cost nuclear power.
• $750 million per year for 10 years for research and development of low-cost solar technology, battery technology, advanced bio-fuels, low-carbon coal, and technologies that will reduce nuclear waste.  Each of these will be funded at $150 million, annually.