Quick answer
The plants came online between 2011 and 2024.[1] 28 of the 36 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and eight use fixed-tilt panels.[1] One plant has battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Signal Solar Farm V | 2018 | 252.3 | Tracking |
| Imperial Valley Solar, LLC | 2014 | 206.7 | Tracking |
| Centinela Solar Energy | 2014 | 170 | Tracking |
| Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility | 2014 | 155.1 | Tracking |
| Mount Signal Solar Farm II | 2020 | 153.5 | Tracking |
| Imperial Solar Energy Center West | 2016 | 148.7 | Tracking |
| Campo Verde Solar | 2013 | 147.4 | Fixed tilt |
| Vikings Energy Farm | 2024 | 136.8 | Tracking |
| Imperial Solar Energy Center South | 2013 | 130 | Fixed tilt |
| Drew Solar, LLC | 2022 | 100 | Tracking |
| Wistaria Ranch Solar | 2018 | 100 | Tracking |
| Titan Solar 1 (CA) | 2020 | 75 | Tracking |
| Midway Solar Farm I | 2018 | 50 | Tracking |
| Citizens Imperial Solar | 2019 | 30 | Tracking |
| Midway Solar Farm II | 2017 | 30 | Tracking |
| Seville 2 | 2015 | 30 | Tracking |
| Imperial Valley Solar Company 1, LLC | 2012 | 23 | Fixed tilt |
| Calipatria Solar Farm | 2016 | 20 | Tracking |
| Imperial Valley Solar Co (IVSC) 2, LLC | 2015 | 20 | Fixed tilt |
| Midway Solar Farm III | 2018 | 20 | Tracking |
| Seville 1 | 2015 | 20 | Tracking |
| Sol Orchard El Centro PV | 2013 | 20 | Tracking |
| Wister Solar | 2018 | 20 | Tracking |
| Heber Solar | 2014 | 10 | Tracking |
| Calipatria State Prison | 2019 | 6 | Tracking |
11 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 2011.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2] The newest came online in 2024.[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]
In 2025, Texas accounted for the largest share of total U.S. utility-scale solar electricity generation, followed by California.[5]
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.
Imperial County, California has 36 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 2,106.3 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 Mount Signal Solar Farm V (2018, 252.3 MW AC), Imperial Valley Solar, LLC (2014, 206.7 MW AC), Centinela Solar Energy (2014, 170 MW AC) and Solar Gen 2 Solar Facility (2014, 155.1 MW AC).[1] The next are Mount Signal Solar Farm II (2020, 153.5 MW AC), Imperial Solar Energy Center West (2016, 148.7 MW AC), Campo Verde Solar (2013, 147.4 MW AC) and Vikings Energy Farm (2024, 136.8 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and 11 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, 30 came online in the 2010s and six in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby California counties with utility-scale solar plants include Riverside County (4,355.8 MW AC), San Diego County (165.3 MW AC), San Bernardino County (1,777.6 MW AC), Orange County (34.8 MW AC) and Los Angeles County (1,822.2 MW AC).[1]
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in California
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
Oil and gas mineral rights in Imperial County, California
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Imperial County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Riverside County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in San Diego County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in San Bernardino 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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