Windfarms could creates thousands of jobs, claims government

01/04/2009

Thousands of construction jobs could be created in the production of windfarms, a government minister has claimed.

Energy minister Mike O'Brien said: "Thousands of jobs could be created as a result of the construction of windfarms - including in our ports which will face enormous demand."

He added the government wanted the UK to become the world's biggest investor in offshore wind, utilising the benefit of being an island nation.

Mr O'Brien was making the comments at a meeting this week which saw more than 100 port operators, developers and investors sit down with the government.

The potential market for UK ports in this sector is worth £1 billion up to 2020, the government says.

According to the British Wind Energy Association, there are already 2,402 wind turbines across 210 UK projects.

They save around 3.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

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