Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Jim Webb (D-VA) have introduced legislation they believe a sounder approach to combating climate change than cap-and-trade legislation currently pending before the Senate. Both Senators have expressed opposition to that legislation, indicating their belief that a cap-and-trade approach to combatting carbon dioxide emissions would prove too costly to the U.S. economy. The legislation, called the Clean Energy Act of 2009, would significantly increase the amount of loan guarantees made available for advanced nuclear energy plants under a program created by the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The goal would be to double the amount of electricity currently generated by nuclear power plants, which the Senators point out is the Nation's largest source of low-emission electricity. The bill also commits $750 million annually over a decade for the establishment of five so-called "mini-Manhattan Projects" that would conduct research and development in areas such as solar energy, advanced biofuels and electric vehicle batteries, as well as carbon capture and storage and recycling used nuclear fuel. A news release issued by Senator Webb's office contains statements from both Members and a summary of the bill; it can be found by following the link here. A copy of the legislation (S. 2776) can be downloaded from the Government Printing Office website by clicking here.