Solar power has its place, but not front and center, according to Senator Lamar Alexander. He spoke at an annual meeting of industrial leaders in Murfreesboro this week.
Alexander says his position doesn’t put him at odds with Governor Phil Bredesen who has heavily invested the state in the solar industry. But Alexander does think nuclear power should rank higher on the list of energy priorities.
“If I were making bets, I’d make those same bets. But one of the problems with renewable energy is scale.”
For instance, a new solar farm in West Tennessee will produce just five megawatts. A nuclear reactor would produce more than 1,200 megawatts available day or night.
Cheap energy, Alexander says, has to be the most important goal because otherwise industry will be forced to move jobs overseas.
The Republican Senator recently introduced legislation that would help authorize 100 new nuclear plants in 20 years. He also has a Democratic sponsor on the bill.
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