For much of Europe, that is true. The fact of the matter is they have much fewer natural energy resources than America - it complicates their problems.
France, OTOH, does VERY well with nuclear energy production - almost 90% of their total electrical consumption is satisfied by nuclear energy. They are the biggest exporter of electricity in the world. They get most things wrong, but that they got right. While we ran from nuclear in the 70's and 80's, they embraced - and are much better off because of it.
That, I think, is because the French leadership has been inclined to act in its nation’s self interest. In the US, that is considered a sin.
Also they don’t “dump” its waste, they recycle.