The lights must not go out on the West Midlands, the Institute of Directors warns.

If they did, manufacturing industry would be decimated, with the region's vulnerable economy hard hit.

Energy security had to be at the top of the agenda for whoever won the upcoming General Election, insisted chairman Richard Boot.

An IoD national survey published today (WED MAR 31) found that 85 per cent of business leaders supported new nuclear power stations.

In its response to regulator OFGEM's document Project Discovery: Options for delivering secure and sustainable energy supplies, the IoD said UK energy policy "had not been sufficiently focussed on mitigating the very serious risk of power cuts in the middle of this decade".

Business leaders were deeply concerned.

The survey of 1,800 IoD members found that ensuring secure energy supplies was the single most important issue a new Government should address over the course of the next full Parliament.

It stated: "The proliferation of Government support mechanisms and policy instruments to encourage renewable energy, and indecision about the role of nuclear power, have sent mixed signals to investors and have not encouraged private investment in new capacity.

"Government indecision, flaws in the strategic planning system and the persistent threat of windfall taxes on the profits of energy companies have been extremely unhelpful.

"The degree of support for new nuclear power stations in the business community is startling."

Further possible solutions could include:

Replacement of the Renewables Obligation by setting a carbon price which allowed the market to determine the appropriate mix of low-carbon capacity, including nuclear.

Incentivising companies to invest in back-up storage and generation for the ongoing wind power push, so there is enough cover for when the wind doesn't blow.

Retention of the Infrastructure Planning Commission in order that strategic energy projects of national importance, such as nuclear power, are fast tracked.

A new push to open up Europe's energy markets.

Mr Boot added: "The UK has been left exposed to power shortages.

"The message from business leaders to the next Government is unambiguous: deal with the energy security problem and start dealing with it now. If this results in speeding up the planning process and a large building programme of new nuclear power stations, so be it. The UK can't afford blackouts."

West Midlands manufacturers had to have reasonably priced energy and security of supply or they would lose out to competitors.