SOUTHEND Council is considering building its own wind turbines as a way of reducing the borough’s carbon emissions.

Officials are looking for ways to promote power generation in the borough as part of a drive to become a designated “green city”.

They have ruled out tidal energy as a power source because they say there are no suitable locations in the borough’s part of the Thames Estuary, but think wind turbines could be a viable option.

Specific sites have yet to be identified, but deputy council leader, Lib Dem Graham Longley said one site he could not rule out was Two Tree Island, Leigh. Asked about other likely sites, Jeremy Martin, the council’s energy projects manager, said: “We are going through the process of identifying sites.

“It is something that is considered in the future, in terms of our energy strategy.”

Mr Longley said: “We are not looking at wind farm locations at the moment. If they are going to come, they will do in the future.”

The issue came up on Wednesday, when the council publicly signed up to the Climate Local pledge, promising to combat its carbon dioxide emissions.

It has agreed it will try to reduce emissions from schools by 34 per cent by 2020.

The new wind turbines would form part of the council’s energy strategy for the next five years, as a way for the council generate its own greener electricity.

Earlier this month, the Echo reported the council was also looking into a “rent-a-roof”

solar panel scheme, with householders being given panels on the roofs of homes.

They would then sharing the proceeds of the electricity generated with the council.

Mr Longley said: “There is going to be massive change nationwide, and we want to be leading that change in Southend.”