UK: 7000 Turbines for Offshore Announced

There could be more than two offshore wind turbines per mile of UK coastline under plans being set out by ministers.

Business Secretary John Hutton says he wants to open up British seas to allow enough new turbines - up to 7000 - to power all UK homes by the year 2020.

He acknowledged it is going to change our coastline but said the issue of climate change was not going away.

The thrust of the idea was backed by Tory Alan Duncan: We're an island nation. There's a lot of wind around. Mr Duncan added on BBC One's Politics Show:

We should use that offshore capacity for generating electricity that's clean and secure. So yes I think it's inevitable and a good thing that there will be more offshore wind.