I ACCEPT global warming. However, the proposed wind turbines near York are ludicrous.

One MW is a million watts, one GW is a thousand MW. The UK uses 60GW of power. The York wind farm will produce about 20MW in a strong breeze. Almost zero in comparison.

If we are serious we need to produce at least 30 per cent of our energy requirement from renewables – 20GW.

If the largest wind turbines produce 5MW, then for a unit of 1GW we need 200 massive turbines. Then 20 such units.

This would have severe visual impact and be a bird hazard. The killer is efficiency.

If we rate the power efficiency available in deep sea as 100, then the just offshore wind-farm comes in at 85, and land-based ones at 65 (with the exception of the Shetland Isles).

Deep sea winds are stronger and far more reliable than onshore, both vital factors.

The open seas have infinite room for these huge farms. So Askham Bryan should be stopped, it is a dead end, an eyesore, and not a solution.

The arguments on scale also apply to sour gas extraction in the North York Moors National Park – a tiny resource which contributes more CO2. Useless.

Chris Clayton, Hempland Drive, York.