President Joe Biden laid out his administration’s efforts to execute the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment aimed at narrowing infrastructure gaps around the world at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Schloss Elmau.
Biden also announced a commitment by the U.S. to provide $14 million toward a front-end engineering and design study that would provide the basis to deploy a small modular reactor power plant in Romania, according to a June 26 State Department release.
“Nuclear energy, including small modular reactors, represent a critical tool in the fight against climate change and can also enhance energy security and boost economic prosperity," Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said in the release. "This is a strong step forward in support of Romania’s desire to deploy innovative, safe and zero-emissions nuclear energy in partnership with the United States.”
The partnership also should strengthen the global supply chains and economy and advance international security through strategic investments, the release reported. The investment directly connects to the PGII program, according to the release. But it also fulfills a pledge made by Kerry and Romania President Klaus Iohannis at last year's UN Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow.
Deploying a small modular reactor in Romania should take eight months and cost $28 million, the release reported. The project will receive funding from Romania SN Nuclearelectrica and NuScale. They will provide Romania with data specific to the site, covering schedule, licensing details, cost and construction.
The reactor is intended to showcase how nuclear reactors can replace fossil fuels — specifically coal — to generate clean energy and provide thousands of jobs, according to the release.
