The Scottish government will focus on renewable energy not nuclear power, a government minister has said following confirmation of significant funding for nuclear power plants in England.
Scotland has an effective ban on new nuclear facilities because the SNP has a long-standing commitment to block projects through devolved planning powers.
Acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin told BBC Scotland News they would "capitalise on renewable energy capacity" rather than "expensive new nuclear".
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said a Scottish Labour government in Holyrood would reverse the SNP's block on nuclear power stations being built.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced earlier that the UK government was investing £14.2bn in the construction of Sizewell C in Suffolk and £2.5bn in small modular reactors in the East Midlands.
Scotland has one remaining active nuclear power plant – at Torness in East Lothian – which is scheduled to close by 2030.
Although energy policy is largely set at Westminster, the Scottish government is able to block projects it opposes as planning powers are devolved.
