Quick answer
The plants came online between 2003 and 2025.[1] 21 of the 36 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 15 use fixed-tilt panels.[1] Nine plants have battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoran Solar Energy | 2023 | 490 | Tracking |
| Sun Streams 4 | 2025 | 300 | Not recorded |
| Solana Generating Station | 2013 | 280 | Fixed tilt |
| Sun Streams 3 | 2024 | 215 | Tracking |
| Mesquite Solar 1 | 2012 | 170 | Fixed tilt |
| Sun Streams, LLC | 2020 | 158 | Tracking |
| Mesquite Solar 3, LLC | 2016 | 154 | Tracking |
| Sun Streams 2 | 2021 | 150 | Tracking |
| Arlington Valley Solar Energy II | 2013 | 129 | Tracking |
| Mesquite Solar 2, LLC | 2016 | 100.8 | Tracking |
| Mesquite Solar 5, LLC | 2022 | 60 | Tracking |
| Mesquite Solar 4, LLC | 2024 | 52.5 | Tracking |
| Gila Bend Hybrid | 2014 | 37.1 | Tracking |
| Queen Creek Solar Farm | 2012 | 19 | Tracking |
| Paloma Solar Hybrid | 2011 | 17.6 | Fixed tilt |
| Cotton Center Solar Hybrid | 2011 | 17 | Tracking |
| RE Gillespie 1, LLC | 2013 | 15 | Fixed tilt |
| Saddle Mountain Solar I | 2012 | 15 | Tracking |
| Badger 1 | 2013 | 14.8 | Tracking |
| Desert Star Hybrid | 2015 | 11.2 | Tracking |
| Luke Solar | 2015 | 11.2 | Tracking |
| Lake Pleasant WTP | 2012 | 6 | Tracking |
| Mesa Carport PV | 2020 | 4.6 | Tracking |
| Intel - Ocotillo Campus Solar | 2017 | 4.2 | Tracking |
| Mesa Solar Array | 2013 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
12 smaller plants are not listed.
Source: U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USGS, LBNL), version 4.0, released April 14, 2026. Data compiled November 1, 2026.
The oldest utility-scale solar plant in the county came online in 2003.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2] The newest came online in 2025.[1] Federal guidance for farmers describes solar lease payments as typically structured as a fixed annual or monthly fee per acre, or as a percentage of the energy generated by the solar panels.[3] Rent during the operations period will likely include an inflation adjustment, which may be tied to a measure like the Consumer Price Index or set at a fixed rate.[4]
What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest. Solar rent is paid period by period, the operations period may last 20 years or more, and renewals are at the developer's option.[4] The land can be converted back to agricultural uses at the end of the installation's operational life.[3]
Educational information only — not legal, tax, or investment advice. The figures are public reference data, not a valuation or appraisal of any interest. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or landman about your specific situation.
Maricopa County, Arizona has 37 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 2,460.7 MW (AC) of capacity in total, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).[1] Utility-scale power plants have at least one megawatt of electricity generation capacity.[5]
The largest plants are Sonoran Solar Energy (2023, 490 MW AC), Sun Streams 4 (2025, 300 MW AC), Solana Generating Station (2013, 280 MW AC), Sun Streams 3 (2024, 215 MW AC) and Mesquite Solar 1 (2012, 170 MW AC).[1] The next are Sun Streams, LLC (2020, 158 MW AC), Mesquite Solar 3, LLC (2016, 154 MW AC) and Sun Streams 2 (2021, 150 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and 12 smaller ones the table does not list.[1]
Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest.
Of the plants with a recorded year, one came online in the 2000s, 27 in the 2010s and nine in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby Arizona counties with utility-scale solar plants include Pinal County (1,203.4 MW AC), La Paz County (32.5 MW AC), Yuma County (1,112.1 MW AC), Yavapai County (47.4 MW AC) and Pima County (300.5 MW AC).[1]
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Arizona
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Pinal County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in La Paz County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Yuma County
[1] U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026) — U.S. Geological Survey and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (accessed November 1, 2026)
[2] Solar Lease Considerations for Landowners — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (accessed November 1, 2026)
[3] Farmer's Guide to Going Solar — U.S. Department of Energy (accessed November 1, 2026)
[4] Farmland Owner's Guide to Solar Leasing — Ohio State University Extension and the National Agricultural Law Center (accessed November 1, 2026)
[5] Solar explained: Where solar is found and used — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties.
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