There could be more than two offshore wind turbines per mile of UK coastline under plans being set out by ministers.
Business Secretary John Hutton says he wants to open up British seas to allow enough new turbines - up to 7,000 - to power all UK homes by the year 2020.
He acknowledged "it is going to change our coastline", but said the issue of climate change was "not going away".
"It is going to change our coastline, yes for sure. There is no way of making that shift to a low carbon technology without there being change and without that change being visible and evident to people.
The other choice was, he said, whether it was "easier to have these developments offshore rather than onshore".
Asked what would happen if there was no wind for a few days, Mr Hutton said that was why there had to be a mix of energy sources - including nuclear power - to cover for calmer weather periods.
Wind turbines have proved to be controversial onshore and offshore.
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 