Wind energy in the US helped the public health sector save $7.3 billion in 2015.

That’s according to the American Wind Energy Association said (AWEA), which claims the renewable source helped reduce a number of health-harming pollutants.

Wind power cut around 132 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to those emitted by 28 million cars.

It also reduced 176,000 metric tonnes of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and 106,000 metric tonnes of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx).

Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA said: “Americans will be able to breathe easier and live longer thanks to clean energy produced by American wind power. Clean air benefits from wind power totaled $7.3 billion (£5bn) last year, without even including the value of carbon savings and the industry also attracts thousands of quality jobs and billions of dollars in private investment to the US economy.

“With wind power, states don’t have to make a trade-off between clean air and strong economic growth.”