The European Commission began this weekend expert consultations over whether nuclear power and some natural gas projects can be considered “sustainable” investments, receiving immediate backlash over “green nuclear” from Germany and Austria, which accused the EU’s executive branch of greenwashing. “Taking account of scientific advice and current technological progress, as well as varying transition challenges across Member States, the Commission considers there is a role for natural gas and nuclear as a means to facilitate the transition towards a predominantly renewable-based future,” the EC said in a statement on Saturday. Germany, the largest EU economy, and Austria were the first to react to the idea of labeling nuclear power as green. Germany—set to phase out all nuclear reactors by the end of 2022—is setting up for an EU fight with another major economy, France, which has most of its electricity generated from nuclear power and strongly supports labeling nuclear […]