U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm and Canadian Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson met in Washington, DC on May 11, 2022, to discuss a number of key issues of mutual interest and importance. The cornerstone of the discussion was an Action Plan to implement the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that reinvigorates and expands energy cooperation between their departments. Secretary Granholm and Minister Wilkinson focused on our ongoing and future collaboration on critical minerals; hydrogen and clean fuels; carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR); and advancing an efficient and clean North American electricity grid. These, and other cooperative efforts, are accelerating the clean energy transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.

The agreed-upon Action Plan is intended to serve as the framework for our efforts under the MOU. Initial areas of focus include: enhancing collaboration in CCUS and CDR to advance technology development and deployment; supporting the advancement of an efficient and clean North American electricity grid to help achieve the goals of 90 percent non-emitting electricity in Canada by 2030, and a net-zero power sector in the United States by 2035; supporting the advancement of production, distribution, and use of clean fuels as a key means to lower emissions across multiple hard-to-abate sectors of their national economies; and advancing and ensuring energy justice for disadvantaged communities.

Secretary Granholm stated that “The United States and Canada have built a strong international partnership to protect the planet and drive down energy costs, and we are committed to deepening our bilateral energy relationship to build an equitable clean energy future. Together, with the leadership of Minister Wilkinson, we will work to accelerate the clean energy transition in both our countries, spurring job growth and ushering in a 100% clean energy future.”

Minister Wilkinson emphasized that “Canada and the United States share a common border, common interests, and common values. We have an opportunity to work actively together to accelerate effective implementation while concurrently building an economy that will provide jobs and economic opportunity for all. I look forward to working with Secretary Granholm to make this happen.”