Quick answer
The plants came online between 2009 and 2022.[1] 17 of the 26 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and nine use fixed-tilt panels.[1] Two plants have battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmot Energy Center, LLC | 2021 | 130 | Tracking |
| Avalon Solar | 2014 | 29 | Tracking |
| Avra Valley Solar | 2013 | 26.5 | Tracking |
| Picture Rocks Solar, LLC | 2012 | 20 | Tracking |
| Avalon Solar II | 2016 | 16 | Tracking |
| Davis Monthan AFB (AZ) West Airfield | 2014 | 12.6 | Tracking |
| Raptor Ridge | 2022 | 12.5 | Tracking |
| Valencia Solar | 2013 | 9 | Tracking |
| Tech Park Solar | 2012 | 5.1 | Fixed tilt |
| Gato Montes Solar, LLC | 2012 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Prairie Fire | 2012 | 4.5 | Fixed tilt |
| RE Ajo 1, LLC | 2011 | 4.5 | Tracking |
| Canyon Del Oro High School Solar | 2016 | 4.4 | Fixed tilt |
| Actus Lend Lease DMAFB | 2009 | 3 | Tracking |
| Broadway 2 - Tucson Phase II | 2022 | 3 | Tracking |
| Amazon TUS2 | 2022 | 2.6 | Fixed tilt |
| Iron Horse Battery Storage Hybrid | 2019 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| FRB Solar Farm | 2011 | 1.9 | Tracking |
| Pima Community College - East Campus | 2017 | 1.3 | Tracking |
| Pima Community College NW | 2019 | 1.3 | Tracking |
| UASTP I | 2010 | 1.2 | Tracking |
| Pima Community College | 2019 | 1.1 | Fixed tilt |
| Amphitheater High School Solar | 2016 | 1 | Fixed tilt |
| Broadway 3 - Tucson Phase I | 2011 | 1 | Tracking |
| Cogenra-TEP | 2014 | 1 | Tracking |
1 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 2009.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2] The newest came online in 2022.[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.
Pima County, Arizona has 26 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 300.5 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 Wilmot Energy Center, LLC (2021, 130 MW AC), Avalon Solar (2014, 29 MW AC), Avra Valley Solar (2013, 26.5 MW AC), Picture Rocks Solar, LLC (2012, 20 MW AC) and Avalon Solar II (2016, 16 MW AC).[1] The next are Davis Monthan AFB (AZ) West Airfield (2014, 12.6 MW AC), Raptor Ridge (2022, 12.5 MW AC) and Valencia Solar (2013, 9 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and one 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, 21 in the 2010s and four 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), Cochise County (163.2 MW AC), Maricopa County (2,460.7 MW AC), Yuma County (1,112.1 MW AC) and La Paz County (32.5 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 Cochise County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Maricopa 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.
Get a Free Written Offer