CENTER, Neb. -- Nebraska's U.S. District Court is handing a northeast Nebraska county a victory in a battle over wind farm regulations.

District Court Judge John Gerrard, on Friday, granted a partial dismissal of a lawsuit filed by North Fork Wind against Knox County. 

The wind energy company and 12 residents filed the lawsuit, challenging changes to zoning laws that they said would likely jeopardize a $1.3 billion wind farm.

“This is a substantial victory for the citizens and taxpayers of Knox County," said Jim Sokol, Chairman of the Knox County Board of Supervisors. "It is significant that at this early stage of the litigation, the bulk of lawsuit was dismissed. The possibility remains that the entire lawsuit could be dismissed on summary judgment.”

He said the Board is contemplating taking a new action to ban new commercial wind farms in Knox County. 

The nest meeting of the County Supervisors will be Apr. 2 at the courthouse in Center. 

Omaha attorney David D. Begley served as Special Knox County Attorney in this matter.