THE Renewable Energy Foundation (REF) is a charity which publishes information on the renewable sector.

Wind farm developers are paid up to ten times the wholesale cost for their electricity.

Larger wind farms come under the complex renewables obligation legislation.

Energy they produce earns an owner about £40 per megawatt hour for the electricity.

The owner also needs a £50 renewables obligations certificate if they are to avoid a hefty fine.

With a life expectancy of 25 years, the profits from wind farms are huge.

John Constable, director of policy and research at REF, said: “There is no better investment in the world outside of actions which are considered illegal.”

A large turbine costs about £2m to build, but can generate, roughly £400,000 a year in profit, even running at a quarter of its potential. Its costs could potentially be recouped within five years on a good site.

The premium for wind, and other renewable energy, is picked up by the consumer. The cumulative impact of so many turbines on the landscape will be massive.

For years, pit heaps dominated County Durham now the countryside is being blighted by huge turbines having a massive visual impact on the Durham dales, destroying the very thing we are trying to protect. One wind farm company wants to build a wind farm next to Teesdale’s second most popular, beautiful tourist attraction, Hamsterley Forest, on the edge of an area of outstanding natural beauty, special protected areas and a site of special scientific interest.

We must stop a free for all approach to wind farms.’ Alistair Rutter, Bishop Auckland.