Severn barrage tidal power plan axed

Cuts force Huhne to ditch controversial £30bn scheme. Minister to embrace nuclear energy to keep lights on – and emissions low.

Chris Huhne, the Secretary of State for Energy, is to give the go-ahead to a string of new nuclear power stations, wind farms and clean coal plants as he sets out how the coalition plans to keep the lights on in the next three decades.

But tomorrow's major statement on energy policy will pull the plug on the vast Severn barrage plan, which it was claimed could generate 5 per cent of Britain's electricity. Wildlife campaigners are delighted at the news, ending fears of the destruction of unique habitats.

Mr Huhne will tell MPs that public money should be targeted at emerging technologies, including carbon capture, which could be exported to other countries.

The decision to build eight new nuclear plants puts him at loggerheads with his Liberal Democrat party, which campaigned at the general election against new reactors.