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.

It is vital that plans for clean coal technology at Longannet and Cockenzie power stations are pursued, but they must be part of an integrated energy policy based on carbon reduction. The case for siting the proposed National Institute for Energy Technologies, with government funding for companies developing renewable technologies, in Aberdeen must now be pursued with vigour. Indeed, the white paper coincided with the opening in Aberdeen of All-Energy 07, Britain's major conference on renewables. There, Jim Mather, Scotland's new Energy Minister, said the SNP executive would follow a twin-track policy of cutting consumption and promoting greener technology.

With both the SNP and the Green Party, which has backed its minority government against building new nuclear power stations, a very clear strategy for issues within the executive's control is required urgently. The Hunterston station in Ayrshire is scheduled to be shut down in 2011, while Torness in East Lothian has a licence to operate until 2023, but both could have their lives extended. That prospect (which is backed by the Greens if there is an energy gap) makes it possible to delay a decision about building a new power station in Scotland, but not indefinitely. That allowed both Mr Darling and Mr Mather to sidestep the imminent prospect of a confrontation on nuclear power between Westminster and Holyrood, but the issue cannot continue to be ducked by the SNP if it wants to demonstrate credibility in government. There is much to be welcomed in the white paper, not least the creation of the world's first mandatory carbon trading scheme for large companies and the redesign of the renewables obligation that should ensure the UK offshore wind resource stands a strong chance of being developed over the next 10 to 15 years.