Quick answer
The plants came online between 2009 and 2025.[1] 115 of the 126 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 11 use fixed-tilt panels.[1] 17 plants have battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eland Solar & Storage Center, Phase 2 Hy | 2025 | 350 | Not recorded |
| Eland Solar & Storage Center, Phase 1 Hy | 2024 | 309.6 | Tracking |
| Solar Star 2 | 2015 | 279.5 | Tracking |
| Chaparral Springs | 2025 | 262 | Not recorded |
| Sandrini Solar 200 | 2024 | 200 | Tracking |
| Golden Field Solar III, LLC | 2020 | 192 | Tracking |
| RE Garland | 2016 | 180 | Tracking |
| Springbok Solar Farm 2 | 2016 | 155 | Tracking |
| Edwards Sanborn E1B | 2022 | 154.4 | Tracking |
| North Rosamond Solar LLC | 2019 | 151.1 | Not recorded |
| Northern Orchard Solar PV, LLC | 2025 | 150 | Not recorded |
| Edwards Sanborn E1A | 2021 | 149.3 | Tracking |
| Edwards Sanborn E4 | 2022 | 148.9 | Tracking |
| Rosamond South 1 | 2025 | 140 | Not recorded |
| Edwards Sanborn E2 | 2021 | 137.8 | Tracking |
| BigBeau Solar, LLC | 2022 | 128 | Tracking |
| Valentine Solar, LLC | 2019 | 111.2 | Tracking |
| Catalina Solar, LLC | 2012 | 110 | Fixed tilt |
| Springbok Solar Farm 1 | 2016 | 105 | Tracking |
| Rabbitbrush Solar, LLC | 2022 | 100 | Tracking |
| RE Astoria | 2016 | 100 | Tracking |
| Sandrini Solar 100 | 2024 | 100 | Tracking |
| Willow Spring Solar, LLC | 2019 | 100 | Tracking |
| Springbok 3 Solar Farm Hybrid | 2019 | 90 | Tracking |
| RE Astoria 2 | 2016 | 75 | Tracking |
113 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 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]
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.
Kern County, California has 138 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 5,692.8 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 Eland Solar & Storage Center, Phase 2 Hy (2025, 350 MW AC), Eland Solar & Storage Center, Phase 1 Hy (2024, 309.6 MW AC), Solar Star 2 (2015, 279.5 MW AC) and Chaparral Springs (2025, 262 MW AC).[1] The next are Sandrini Solar 200 (2024, 200 MW AC), Golden Field Solar III, LLC (2020, 192 MW AC), RE Garland (2016, 180 MW AC) and Springbok Solar Farm 2 (2016, 155 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and 113 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, 76 in the 2010s and 61 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby California counties with utility-scale solar plants include Los Angeles County (1,822.2 MW AC), Tulare County (934.6 MW AC), Santa Barbara County (64 MW AC), Kings County (1,513.8 MW AC) and San Luis Obispo County (853.2 MW AC).[1]
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in California
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
Oil and gas mineral rights in Kern County, California
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Kern County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Los Angeles County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Tulare County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Santa Barbara County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Kings County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in San Luis Obispo 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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