thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

For U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, clean energy means nuclear energy.

The Tennessee Republican has been pushing a plan to build 100 new nuclear power plants in the United States during the next 20 years. Speaking at the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association annual meeting on Friday, Alexander said that current alternative energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar energy are not yet cost effective.

"I believe nuclear is our only option for large amounts of clean, low-cost energy," he said.

Nuclear power produces only 20 percent of America's electricity, but it produces 70 percent of carbon-free, pollution-free electricity. Building 100 nuclear plants would double U.S. electricity production from nuclear power in 20 years, making it about 40 percent of all electricity production, Alexander said.

Alexander said that although public the remains concerned about the safety of nuclear power in the wake of the Three Mile Island accident that occurred in 1979, nuclear power is safe.

"It's time to take a new look," he said.

Nuclear waste from the plants could be stored on-site until more efficient reprocessing technology is created, Alexander said.

"The waste can be safely stored for 40 to 60 years," he said.

Electric vehicles, offshore oil

Alexander also said he wants to encourage the production of electric cars and trucks, exploring offshore for oil and gas and increased funding for research and development of cost-effective renewable energy.

The second term senator is not a fan of the idea of deploying wind turbines in Tennessee.

"I don't want to see any 50-story wind turbines destroying the landscape of Tennessee," he said. "... I believe tourists come here to see the landscape, and they leave their money behind."

Alexander supports cleaning up existing coal plants and, within 20 years, wants utilities to implement technology to virtually eliminate most pollution from coal-fired power plants.

"We ought to just do it," he said. "I know it's expensive, but it's the cost of doing business if you want to burn coal."

The easiest way to lower energy costs is through conservation, Alexander said.

"The low-hanging fruit is conservation and efficiency," he said.