New British nuclear power plants planned

Britain says new generation of nuclear power plants could produce electricity from 2018

• On 12:26 pm EST, Monday November 9, 2009

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's energy secretary says a new generation of British nuclear power stations could be producing electricity by 2018.

Ed Miliband told lawmakers on Monday that 10 sites had been selected for new nuclear power stations and that planning laws are being streamlined to allow the plants to win quick approval.

All but one of Britain's existing nuclear plants are due to close by 2023. Miliband says new plants could provide 40 percent of the country's electricity by 2025.

Miliband says the U.K. also plans to generate 30 percent of electricity by renewable sources by 2020.

He said that Britain will only approve new coal-fired power stations if they are fitted with carbon capture and storage technology, and the techniques are proven to work.