Lamar Alexander

Be tight on electric power as soon as 2011

But do you support building 100 nuclear power plants in the next 20 years?

Why wouldn't we instead build 100 new nuclear power plants over the next 20 years?

I believe climate change is a problem, that I have introduced legislation to cap carbon from coal plants.

A 2 cent increase? You are one of the most experienced environmental persons in the city, and you're actually telling me that a 2 cent increase in a gallon of gasoline will change driving habits.

Do you think anyone will change their driving habits based on a 2 cent increase in the gallon of gasoline?

You think that will change behavior in terms of lowering the amount that people will drive their cars?

You disagree with that?

I mean, I don't have a lot of time. Is it true or not true?

Every time you add utility bills or costs to existing utility bills, prices go up.

I think the House-passed bill, though is exactly wrong. It is a $100 billion job killing national energy tax that will add another utility bill to every American family.

I am one Senator who believes climate change is a problem and that humans are causing it, and that we need to deal with it.

If we think that reducing that carbon is a good idea, what is the most sensible way to do it?

It is a rare opportunity, Madam Chairman.

It seems to me that since, in 1990-91, Senator Boxer went over this this morning, when the Government put on the cap-and-trade for acid rain, we had a clear way to deal with it.

In plain English, it would not change behavior enough to cause people to drive less and reduce carbon.

If we had an effective low-carbon fuel standard, why would we need to apply an economy-wide cap-and-trade?

That is a pretty big gasoline tax increase.

I would appreciate that.

On the issue of climate, picking up where we left off this morning in our discussion on climate change and energy, you know, we have a spectrum of opinions in the U.S. Senate.

I would like to urge you to examine that, because we have had testimony before this committee that cap-and-trade--by Oak Ridge scientists--that cap-and-trade was a very inefficient way to deal with fuel because it raises the price, that is…

So you believe that you have sufficient authority now to reinstate a regional CAIR rule by early 2011. Is that correct?

If we move ahead, Senator Carper has talked about moving ahead with legislation on three pollutants, and I am very much inclined to join him in that, as I have before.

But is it not true solar and wind and other renewables on which the Administration seems to be absolutely fixated, and which I think are fine and useful, only produce 6 percent of our carbon-free electricity? Nuclear produces 70 percent…

I think you left out an adjective. I put the word cheap in there.