“With urgent action needed to combat climate change, and with our energy supplies increasingly insecure and dependent on imports, it?s time to rethink the way we supply and consume energy in Britain.

A Conservative government will take immediate action to give Britain leadership in a low carbon world. We will cut carbon emissions and promote low carbon energy production. We will safeguard our energy security and make it easier for families to go green.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world, but it provides us with opportunities too. To cut emissions and encourage new low carbon energy production, we will:

• Introduce an Emissions Performance Standard to set a legal limit on the emissions from power stations;
• Deliver a 10 per cent cut in central government carbon emissions within 12 months of coming to office;
• Create four carbon capture and storage equipped power plants;
• Deliver an offshore electricity grid and establish at least two Marine Energy Parks;
• Allow communities that host renewable energy projects like wind farms to keep the additional business rates they generate for six years; and,
• Provide incentives for smaller-scale energy generation.

Britain needs a clear, consistent and stable energy policy that safeguards our energy security. We will take immediate action to secure the UK?s energy supplies, including:

• Putting in place supply guarantees in the gas and electricity markets ? ensuring that sufficient electricity generating capacity is maintained and setting an obligation on gas suppliers to ensure that supplies are in place throughout the year;
• Reforming the Climate Change Levy to provide a floor price for carbon, delivering the right climate for investment;
• Transforming electricity networks with ‘smart grid’ and ‘smart meter’ technology; and,
• Clearing the way for new nuclear power stations ? provided they receive no public subsidy.

A Conservative government will make it easier for families to go green, whilst taking action to reduce energy bills. We will:

• Create a ?Green Deal?, giving every home up to ?6,500 worth of energy improvement measures ? paid for out of the savings made on fuel bills;
• Ensure that every energy bill provides information on how to move to the cheapest tariff offered by their supplier and how their energy usage compares to similar households; and,
• Reform the Post Office Card Account to give up to 4 million people access to lower tariffs.”