Out of the top 25 lobbying spenders of 2009, nine of those are heavily involved in the energy and climate debate -- including four oil companies and Southern Co., the recipient of the Obama administration's first nuclear loan guarantee.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks at the top, spending more than $120 million last year on lobbying, nearly doubling its total from 2008. ExxonMobil came in a distant second, with a 2009 total of $27.4 million, down 5.4 percent from 2008. The other oil giants that made the list include Chevron (eighth), ConocoPhillips (12th) and BP America (16th).

Southern Co., the Southeastern electricity company that President Obama awarded the first conditional nuclear loan guarantee last month, is the 20th-highest spender. It spent $13.5 million on lobbying in 2009. While environmental groups have charged that the company has dedicated inordinate amounts of money and manpower to influencing the debate, its spending actually dropped 3.8 percent from 2008.

Energy and the environment made up a significant portion of the most common issues lobbyists reported in their 2009 disclosure filings, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, with 1,747 registrations for "Energy/nuclear power" and 1,259 for "Environment/Superfund."

National Journal delved into the state of lobbying in its March 13 issue (subscription). After the jump, see a list of the biggest spenders who have a hand in the climate and energy debate.

Biggest lobbying spenders in the energy and climate debate:
Company 2009 lobbying,
first three quarters
1. U.S. Chamber of Commerce $123.3 million
2. ExxonMobil $27.4 million
3. General Electric $25.5 million
4. Chevron $20.8 million
5. National Association of Realtors $19.4 million
6. ConocoPhillips $17.9 million
7. BP America $15.9 million
8. Southern Co. $13.5 million
9. Business Roundtable $13.4 million

Also, check out NationalJournal.com's 10-part November series on the top energy agenda-setters in the first three quarters of last year.