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DE RUEHSM #0513/01 2261319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141319Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4627
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000513 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EIND ENRG EUN EWWT KGHG SENV TPHY TRGY
TSPL, SW 
SUBJECT:  Discussion with Sweden on Next Steps to Launch the "Next 
Big Thing" (Alternative Energy Partnership) 
 
Ref: (A) State 64364 (B) Stockholm 399 (C) Stockholm 202; (D) 
Brussels 1031 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  Swedish officials are enthusiastic about launching 
the "Next Big Thing," a U.S.-EU Alternative Energy Partnership 
modeled on the U.S.-Sweden partnership. State Secretary for Energy 
Ola Altera said he will contact Sweden's Perm Rep in Brussels as 
soon as he had reviewed this with his counterparts at the Foreign 
Ministry.  The Swedes know that in order to do this during their 
Presidency, they must act with some urgency now.  Embassy and 
Ministry officials discussed possible timing for a public launching 
of the alternative energy partnership by senior U.S. and Swedish 
officials, perhaps in the lead-up to the U.S.-EU Summit.  End 
Summary 
 
¶2. (U) On August 11, Charge and Embassy officials met with State 
Secretary of Energy Ola Altera and Swedish Ministry of Enterprise 
and Energy officials to follow up on the Charges' July 1 discussion 
with Foreign Ministry State Secretary Frank Belfrage (REF B), in 
which Belfrage welcomed the U.S. proposal to launch an U.S.-EU 
alternative energy partnership (REF A) modeled on the U.S.-Sweden 
alternative energy partnership, the "One Big Thing."  Altera and the 
other officials were anxious to launch the EU-wide partnership, 
dubbed the "Next Big Thing," during Sweden's EU Presidency and noted 
the need to act urgently.  Altera suggested a joint USEU and Swedish 
approach to the Commission, and said that after consulting with 
Belfrage and the Prime Minister's State Secretary Gustav Lind, he 
would contact Sweden's Perm Rep in Brussels. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The U.S. and Swedish sides discussed timing of next steps, 
and what might be a suitable forum for the possible announcement. 
Altera was interested in some kind of event where Minister for 
Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson and U.S. Secretary of Energy 
Secretary Chu could announce the initiative, perhaps in the run-up 
to the U.S.-EU Summit, planned for November 2009.  One suggestion 
was at the first meeting of the Energy Technology Working Group of 
the U.S.-proposed EU-U.S. Energy Council.  Altera noted that 
although he knew his EU colleagues favored the Energy Council 
proposal, he was not current on the status of acceptance of the 
proposal by the Commission or EU Council as a Summit deliverable. 
The two sides discussed the natural linkage between the Energy 
Council Proposal's work on technology and NBT, but shared the 
concern that launching of the NBT not be held up by any differing 
Member State or Commission perspectives on the Council.  Altera 
noted that it might be wise to not link the NBT too closely with the 
Energy Technology working group of the proposed Energy Council yet, 
until we know what will happen with the Energy Council. 
 
¶4.  (U) Swedish officials noted that the Informal Meeting of the EU 
Competitiveness Council in Umea (October 14-16, hosted by Minister 
Olofsson) could potentially be a suitable forum for an NBT 
announcement.  Altera noted that the private sector, both SME's and 
large corporations, will have a large role at the meeting, which 
will have eco-efficient economies as its main theme.  The Swedes 
said they had invited U.S. Assistant to the President for Energy and 
Climate Carol Browner to this event, but have not heard whether she 
will attend. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Embassy Commercial Counselor Frank Carrico noted that the 
announcement of the Next Big Thing partnership should be preceded by 
actual projects being developed.  This led to discussion of the 
considerable activity on EU and national clean technology standards, 
including standards on energy efficiency in buildings and 
sustainable construction.  Altera said the Swedish Presidency's aim 
is to reach an agreement on the Directive on the energy performance 
of buildings, as well as two other proposals on energy efficiency 
(labeling and tires), by December. 
 
¶6.  (U) Altera said his office would strategize about how 
possibilities for alternative energy commercial partnerships could 
be presented for firms from the U.S. and EU countries.  He suggested 
using the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and its counterpart 
organizations throughout Europe, the Am Cham, and/or the Chambers of 
Commerce to establish a mechanism for all sizes of companies to make 
their work known and seek connections with other partners.  The 
Embassy Public Affairs Counselor suggested setting up something like 
a private sector or non-governmental "U.S.-EU green connect site" 
where information about U.S. and European firms could be posted and 
shared. Altera promised to get back to us soon about suggested next 
steps. 
 
¶7.  (U) To help publicize the partnership, the Embassy Public 
Affairs Counselor suggested a draft Op-Ed possibly signed by a U.S., 
Swedish and Commission official. 
 
GOS participants: 
Ola Altera, State Secretary for Energy issues at the Ministry of 
 
STOCKHOLM 00000513  002 OF 002 
 
 
Enterprise and Energy 
Frank Nilsson, Press secretary to Energy Minister Maud Olofsson 
Bengt Toresson, GOS' OBT liaison 
Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, Political advisor to Maud Olofsson 
(replacing Anders Nyberg who is on AL) 
Maria Brogren, Energy Division, responsible for Energy research 
 
USG Participants: 
Charg Bob Silverman 
A/DCM Laura Kirkconnell 
SCO Frank Carrico 
PAO Chris Dunnett 
ECON FSN Annika Henningsson 
 
SILVERMAN