A study headed by engineering professor Mark Jacobson of California’s Stanford University used advanced weather modelling to work out that erecting 300GW of turbines would do the trick.

Strategically placed in the waters along the eastern seaboard (battered in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy) and the Gulf coast (hit by Isaac in 2012 and devastated by Katrina in 2005) these huge developments could slow down winds by 40 metres per second (more than 145km/h) and curb storm surge by 80%.

This