Commenting on plans to go ahead with the first phase of the London array offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary, announced by businesses today, Friends of the Earth Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"It's fantastic news that the UK will be home to the world's largest offshore wind farm. London Array will cut UK emissions, reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and create hundreds of new green jobs."

"The UK has the best offshore wind resource in Europe - Ministers must ensure that more projects like this are developed so that Britain reaps the huge employment, business and environmental benefits of clean, green energy."

"This must include a new super-grid to ensure we get maximum benefit from offshore energy, and greater efforts to make sure that turbines are built in Britain - not imported from abroad. "