The Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Sweden on Wednesday to bolster nuclear power on both sides of the Atlantic as the U.S. implements a major law advancing the technology.
In an interview with POLITICO’s E&E News after the signing, Swedish Energy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said bilateral nuclear cooperation is important for the “green transition” and global competition with China. She inked the deal in Washington alongside Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
“Europe is now learning a very hard lesson on being so dependent on China, when it comes to rare earth metals and minerals,” Busch said. “This is the reason why we are so actively hunting down strategic partnerships with countries with whom we share the same values.”
China dominates the global supply chain for minerals, solar panels and other low-carbon energy technologies, including electric vehicles. That presents a challenge for Europe, which uses more clean energy than the U.S.
