Ministers act to stop lights going out in 2015

Fears that Britain could be plunged into an energy crisis by 2015 will result in the green light being given by Christmas for a new generation of nuclear power stations, senior Whitehall sources are indicating.

With more than a fifth of the UK’s electricity generating capacity due to be closed down in the next eight years, ministers are planning to fast-track Labour’s energy strategy with the publication of two white papers this month.


Sources said that the government would mount a full public consultation process over the coming months, after which a final decision will be taken. But ministers have been persuaded of the need to act quickly. “We are concerned that unless we act soon, the lights could go out in 2015 in the event of a really hot or really cold spell”, said one Whitehall insider.

One of the white papers will argue that Britain needs a balanced energy portfolio, including nuclear, to meet its needs over the coming decade. The other is designed to speed up the planning system, allowing new power stations to be given the go-ahead within two to three years.

The Guardian