Experts to stress offshore wind farm benefits

A summit meeting has been organised in Whitby to discuss the potential economic and environmental rewards which would be secured through the construction of the wind farms to provide a vital source of renewable energy.

Among the delegates will be Professor Jack Hardisty, a professor of environmental physics at Hull University and the technical director of Neptune Renewable Energy Ltd, and Yorkshire Forward's environmental technology sector manager, Andrew Fox.

The MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Robert Goodwill, and Sam Pick, the sector champion for the Team Humber Marine Alliance who has overseen a series of offshore energy projects, are also due to attend.

Scarborough Borough Council's head of legal and support services, Ian Anderson, has been involved in organised the conference at the Whitby Pavilion.

He said: "The requirement for operations and maintenance support will continue for many years beyond installation and will provide wide ranging opportunities for business and employment.

"This is considered to provide a major economic development opportunity for the borough."

The Government announced plans earlier this year for a massive expansion of offshore wind farms around the British coast, with thousands of turbines to be constructed off the Yorkshire coast.

One of the wind farms is earmarked for Dogger Bank and is expected to include about 2,600 giant turbines covering more than 3,300 sq miles – equivalent to the size of North Yorkshire.

The Yorkshire Post is campaigning for the huge new construction and service industry supplying the wind farms to be located in the region.