WHEN it comes to our energy needs nothing is perfect.

But in 2018 when some people sit on Brighton seafront and look at the vista they will think it has been ruined.

And then there are those people who will be horrified at fracking under the South Downs. So yes, neither of these two options are perfect here.

Brighton and Hove and the rest of the Sussex Coast from Shoreham to Seaford is stuck between a rock and a hard place, or rather between drilling under rocks and a windy place out at sea.

Like Caroline Lucas said, creating a wind farm and making plans for fracking at the same time is like pouring water in the bath without the plug in. We seem to be going ahead with both plans in some sort of schizophrenic race for energy, creating green energy at sea and horrifying environmentalists with ideas about fracking.

When it comes to the Rampion Offshore Windfarm, to complain now is a little bit like shutting the door after the horse has bolted.

But you cannot help but agree with many who want to look out at the horizon and see what people have seen here for centuries.

But in three years it will be a picture of 116 turbines. Hopefully, if the science works, they will also be spinning us some energy.

The wind farm is meant to be cutting CO2 emissions by up to 600,000 tonnes a year and will provide power to 300,000 homes.

At least we know what the cost of that project will be in terms of the effect on our beautiful coastline. The problem with fracking is that we are simply not yet sure of the extent of the damage and the use of fossil fuels will ruin much of the good work achieved by these green projects.