Benefits of wind farms

With so many parts of the country suffering from a lack of investment, jobs and poor services, why are we being so slow to build wind energy projects that would would provide a sustainable boost to the local economy?

- Caroline Snow, via email

Wind farms take very little land out of food production, supplement farmers' incomes, generate cheap and clean energy that supports local industry, and provide community benefit funds that can be reinvested in local infrastructure and services.

The supply chain for wind energy projects, including manufacturing, construction and, for offshore wind, port development, creates thousands of jobs, and a large offshore wind farm adds £2-3bn to the economy.