The answer is blowing in the wind

Yet the three proposed schemes have proved so controversial they are already in danger of becoming the new mobile phone masts.

Campaign groups have quickly been formed, with objectors claiming the schemes will be an "environmental disaster", blight the landscape and cause property devaluation and even health problems.

Those in favour of the turbines say they are the answer to global warming.

Renewable energy company Infinergy has proposed six 125-metre turbines at Masters Pit quarry, East Stoke, and electricity company Ecotricity wants to build six 120m turbines near Silton, Gillingham.

There are also plans for a wind farm near Canford Heath in Poole.

Terry Stewart, chairman of Purbeck Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), is against the proposals.

"The biggest concern is the fact that it's a visual blot right next to the Purbeck Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the World Heritage Site," he said.

"Because these are so big they won't just be seen across the neighbourhood. They will be visible through much of Dorset and even from the Isle of Wight.

"Because of the visual intrusion and sound, we've got examples of property values declining by 20 per cent."

Terry was also concerned that the effect of light on the blades with the sun behind them could cause a strobe effect, sparking epileptic fits.

He added: "In certain conditions, if you've got the wind from a particular direction, you get a woosh, woosh noise, which can be very disturbing, especially at night when it's quiet."

The arguments against wind turbines are similar to those against mobile phone masts, but Mr Stewart insisted it wasn't just a case of "not in my back yard".

At Dorset CPRE's recent annual meeting, members voted unanimously in favour of renewable energy and off-shore wind turbines.

"But there are 14 other types of renewable energy," said Terry.

"Wind power is not reliable because you don't know when the winds are going to blow.

"You've always got to have a fossil fuel power station to back it up, so it's not saving that much energy."

He also voiced concerns about migrating birds being killed by the turbines' blades, and the energy it would take to actually put up the structures.

With the prospect of wind farms in Dorset a fairly new idea, it's understandable people are unsure about their impact.

But are they worrying unnecessarily?

James Cain, wind turbine expert and planning consultant for Bournemouth solicitor Horsey, Lightly, Fynn, said it was "extremely unlikely" the Dorset coast would be a target for off-shore wind farms.

He said most of them would be situated on the east coast, with some in the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel.

"I don't think we are going to see a glut of wind farm planning applications," he added.

"But what you will see is private properties and businesses having their own individual turbines to generate electricity for their own businesses.

"From a planning point of view, a lot of them won't need permission."

DIY store B&Q already sells domestic wind turbines, which come fully installed at a cost of £1,898. Standing 4.38m high, the wall-mounted turbines generate 230 volts.

Mr Cain understood why people were nervous about the proposed wind farms.

"Because it's a new technology people don't really know a lot about them. And because you're close to residential properties and businesses, you're going to have impacts on them.

"There are lots of issues to consider from a planning point of view. The biggest one is the visual impact and noise as well.

"Some of the blades are 90m and are whirring around and you get a lot of noise."

However, not everyone is concerned about the wind farms, not least because they provide an alternative power source.

Peter Barker, spokesman for Say Yes to Wind Power, said: "In a world of limited resources we have to take responsibility for our power generation.

"We know climate changes, it's wreaking havoc on our ecosystem. I just think it makes sense."

Peter stressed the site for the East Stoke wind farm was actually outside the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on brownfield land. He added: "The RSPB say appropriately-positioned wind farms don't pose a hazard for birds.

"Anything that's produced by a wind farm will reduce the demand on a coal-fired power station and the noise level will be on a par with rural background noise.

"As far as the visual impact goes, it's a personal preference - we like the look of them."

And he's not alone. When the group launched on the streets of Wareham last month, members were extremely pleased with the response. "It's reassured us that we are representing the quiet majority," said Mr Barker.

"Once people start experiencing them, I think they will get used to them. It's fear of the unknown which is a problem.

"We have great potential to make a difference in the UK.

"We have to take responsibility for our power generation and combat climate change."