NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Sen. Lamar Alexander (R – Tennessee) has a plan to fight climate change.

In an op-ed published in the Washington Times, the outgoing U.S. senator proposed a five-year project that would “use American research and technology to put our country and the world firmly on a path toward cleaner, cheaper energy.” He called it a new Manhattan Project for Clean Energy.

“I believe climate change is real. I believe that human emissions of greenhouse gases are a major cause of climate change,” Alexander said in part.

As part of the plan, he wants the federal government to double its funding for energy research and technology. Alexander says the U.S. can lead the way to help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases around the world.

He hopes the plan will have bipartisan support and will “place us firmly on a path toward dealing with climate change, and at the same time, produce large amounts of reliable, clean energy that lifts family incomes in our country and around the world.”

Alexander is not seeking re-election in 2020. He has held his seat since 2003 after former Sen. Fred Thompson retired.