Tories want people to have a share in wind farms

Communities across Norfolk could be given the chance to own a share in local wind farm schemes as part of a Conservative plan to win support for cleaner energy.

Conservative shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark joined Norwich North candidate Chloe Smith for a campaign stop at City College Norwich to look at how the college was trying to cut its carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources such as solar power.

The stop-off came less than 24 hours after the Green Party held a campaign 'press conference' with 30 students setting out Green manifesto plans.

But Mr Clark said the Tories would do more to speed up the use of smart meters in homes so householders could keep a closer eye on their energy use and a vote for David Cameron was the best way of ensuring a 'green government' on May 7.

And he said the party wanted to give local people a chance to own a stake in a local wind farm so that they could profit from any energy produced.

'We think they could have cheaper energy bills if they are partly owned by their community area,' he said. 'For some parishes and villages that could be thousands of pounds a year and that's money that could be usefully invested,' he added.