By Mike Lloyd For BBC News Online

Who could possibly oppose the idea of clean, green energy from 'renewable' sources like the sun, the wind and the waves?

It seems people with the prospect of a giant wind farm on their doorstep are increasingly unenthusiastic.

Of all the renewable power sources it is the most controversial and it is likely to get more so with an estimated 150 wind projects seeking approval in Scotland alone.

Solway Protest

The most recent controversy is over plans to site 60 giant turbines on a sandbank in the Solway Firth.

"We're not against wind power in general but we are very concerned about this site and its effect on the tourist trade," said local community councillor John Makins.

Makins considers the site would be highly visible from alongside the estuary and his views are shared by the two local authorities, English and Scottish, that have a planning remit around the Solway Firth.

Competing priorities need to be weighed. For instance; do jobs gained through construction and running turbines compensate for those which may be lost in the tourist trade?

But for a group called Country Guardian, which campaigns against wind farms, there's an even bigger issue.

Tourism could be affected

"No-one has dared to propose a wind farm on the white cliffs of Dover yet," said Angela Kelly who sees the farms as ravaging the British landscape.

Those campaigning against wind power judge it inefficient and intrusive. They claim it fails to meet energy needs.

"They've got 11,000 of these things in Germany and it hasn't closed one nuclear power station," Angela insisted.

The wind power lobby points out that prominent nuclear power advocate, Sir Bernard Ingham is a supporter of the views of Country Guardian.

Helen Snodin of consultants, Garrad Hassan, which recently carried out research for the Scottish Executive, insists developing clean sources of energy is essential.

"You have to decide - do you want energy solutions that, for instance leave nuclear waste?"

Helen admits the "intermittency" of wind poses some technical challenges, as its share of electricity supply increases. But she expects the system will adapt to cope.

She says research shows people are less concerned about wind-farms once they have seen one up and running - a view Country Guardian disputes.

They've got 11,000 of these things in Germany and it hasn't closed one nuclear power station

Angela Kelly

Scientist, Dick Birnie, of the Macauley Institute in Aberdeenshire has studied the impact of wind farms since the mid-90s.

In his view the government has not taken account of a major shift in how rural areas perceive themselves.

"They no longer consider themselves areas of production ...people are moving in to the country because it offers a high quality of life."

"The government is trying to project large-scale industrial developments into areas which are no longer prepared to accept them."

Dr Birnie is not against wind power but thinks it is time for a major public debate on its pros and cons.

Wrong place

Meanwhile, Dumfries and Galloway councillors are asking the Scottish Executive for a public enquiry into the Solway Firth project - a decision welcomed by local MP, Peter Duncan.

The MP thinks with wind power, siting is all important. "It is the cheapest place for the energy company but in my view it is the wrong place."

Nonetheless, the MP believes elsewhere in his constituency there is scope for renewable energy generation.

"Scotland has the potential to become a centre of excellence for renewables and Dumfries and Galloway could play a major role.'