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Lancaster County approves more stringent wind turbine rules

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lancaster County commissioners have approved more stringent regulations for wind turbines in the county.

The Lincoln Journal Star (http://bit.ly/1OEwXxi ) reports commissioners voted Tuesday to establish wind turbine noise limits of 40 decibels during the day and 47 decibels at night. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission recommended limits of 50 decibels during the day and 42 decibels at night.

Commissioners also established minimum setbacks for wind turbines from neighboring properties based on turbine height, differing from the 1,000-foot setback recommended by the commission.

Reconsideration of the county's existing wind turbine regulations were prompted by plans by Oregon-based Volkswind USA to build more than 50 wind turbines in southern Lancaster and northern Gage counties. An attorney representing the company had said that if the proposed regulations on wind turbine noise levels were approved, the counties would be "effectively off-limits."

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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com

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