An energised debate

The prospect of power failure in our increasingly computer-dependent world has one welcome effect: it is concentrating the political and policy-making minds. Yesterday's white paper on energy gave notice that the government sees new nuclear power stations as an essential component of the UK's future energy strategy. In making the argument in favour of a third generation of nuclear power stations in terms of security of supply and low carbon emissions, Alistair Darling, the Trade and Industry Secretary, recognises that the nuclear option is not the most popular. However, no decision on new nuclear power stations should be made without a clear strategy for the disposal of nuclear waste. The strategy to boost renewables requires investment. That is the vital component - as was illustrated dramatically yesterday with the announcement by BP that it has abandoned plans to build a groundbreaking carbon capture plant at Peterhead. The delay of the competition for funding until November caused the oil giant to pull the plug. The combination of North Sea technology and zero emission energy made this a particularly promising prospect for Scotland, and Westminster's foot-dragging can only ratchet up the tensions between the two. Alex Salmond has championed the Peterhead project (which is in his Westminster constituency) and will be furious at its loss.