Hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars worth of investment have been stymied in key electorates across Victoria because of state government wind farm restrictions, according to new research.

In a week when job losses dominated the political landscape, an analysis of wind farm proposals suggests some of the most volatile seats heading into this year's election have missed out on construction jobs and the possibility of ongoing economic benefits because of rules preventing projects in certain areas.

Illustration: Matt Golding.

While Premier Denis Napthine has previously declared his personal love for wind farms - his south-west electorate has the largest wind energy project in the southern hemisphere - Coalition legislation has created a series of ''no go'' zones around many Victorian towns, established a right of veto for people living within two kilometres of proposed turbines and made it difficult to extend or alter approved projects.

According to research by Friends of the Earth - based on modelling by Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) for the Clean Energy Council - this has resulted in 11 proposed wind farms being knocked back in recent years, costing a total of more than 400 jobs in the electorates of Polwarth, Gippsland South, and South Barwon (held by the government), Macedon, Bendigo West, Ripon, Williamstown and Buninyong (held by Labor).