Tippecanoe County raises limits for wind turbine noise

After hearing more than an hour of debate, the Tippecanoe County commissioners approved changes this morning to noise limits in the county's wind energy ordinance.

It was a split decision, 2-1, with Commissioner John Knochel voting against the changes.

As it is now amended, the ordinance allows for large wind turbines to generate an average sound output of 50 decibels per hour. There is no ceiling set for noise from the wind systems at any one time, but there is a penalty established if the companies let turbines go above the 50 decibel average per hour.