New nuclear plants to guarantee energy for Britain, says Blair

Tony Blair put the Government on a collision course with green groups as he confirmed that the Energy White Paper would herald a fresh consultation on nuclear power.

He said new plants would make Britain less reliant on foreign gas and oil, while providing a carbon dioxide-free source of energy that could help tackle climate change.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said unless urgent action was taken now, there could be severe disruption to electricity supplies as early as 2017.

As North Sea oil ran out, the gap between what is generated and what is used could be "too close for comfort", he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We do not want to place ourselves at the whim of countries which may or may not decide to supply us," he said.

The Government plans include a huge boost for renewable energy, including moves to make it easier to build offshore wind farms. Other plans include:

phasing out standard light bulbs by 2011;
a boost for hybrid cars and biofuels;
smart meters giving instant updates on home energy use.

The long-term energy strategy follows a planning overhaul announced on Monday which will speed up permissions for new nuclear power plants.

The Prime Minister made clear that energy is now an issue of national security with Russia flexing its muscles by using its huge gas and oil reserves to influence foreign policy.

"It is right that we consider how nuclear power can help underpin the security of our energy supply without increasing our reliance on fossil fuels," he said.

"We can meet our carbon dioxide emissions targets, but only if we think ahead and take tough decisions over new wind farms - and give serious consideration to nuclear power."

Chancellor Gordon Brown is understood to be fully behind the plan to keep the nuclear option fully available but the Treasury is also keen to keep down costs to the taxpayer. It is expected that private firms will foot the bill for building the new stations.

Tory leader David Cameron has suggested that nuclear power can only be a last resort. Green groups pointed out that nuclear power is intrinsically harmful to the environment as its waste lasted for thousands of years.

Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "Reaching for nuclear power to fight climate change is like a couch potato taking up smoking to lose weight."