# Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Orange County, California

> Orange County, California: nine utility-scale solar plants, 34.8 MW (AC). Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california/orange
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. Orange County, California has nine utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 34.8 MW (AC) of capacity in total, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).

## Utility-scale solar plants in Orange County

The plants came online between 2012 and 2023.^\[1\] Seven of the nine plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and two use fixed-tilt panels.^\[1\] Three plants have battery storage on site.^\[1\]

| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BCE Los Alamitos 1 | 2023 | 10 | Tracking |
| BCE Los Alamitos 2 | 2023 | 10 | Tracking |
| CSUF Trigeneration | 2012 | 4.3 | Fixed tilt |
| Orange Coast College PH2 Solar Project | 2022 | 3.1 | Fixed tilt |
| Anaheim Solar Energy Plant | 2014 | 2.1 | Tracking |
| CSUF Nutwood Solar | 2016 | 1.9 | Tracking |
| Alticor Inc - Solar Project | 2017 | 1.2 | Tracking |
| Kroger La Habra | 2020 | 1.2 | Tracking |
| CSUF State College | 2016 | 1 | Tracking |

Source: U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USGS, LBNL), version 4.0, released April 14, 2026. Data compiled November 1, 2026.

## What the data means for solar lease owners in Orange County

The oldest utility-scale solar plant in the county came online in 2012.^\[1\] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.^\[2\] The newest came online in 2023.^\[1\] 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.^\[4\]

## Solar leases in California

In 2025, Texas accounted for the largest share of total U.S. utility-scale solar electricity generation, followed by California.^\[5\]

## What you sell and what you keep

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.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many utility-scale solar plants are in Orange County, California?

Orange County, California has nine utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 34.8 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.^\[5\]

### Which solar plants operate in Orange County?

The largest plants are BCE Los Alamitos 1 (2023, 10 MW AC), BCE Los Alamitos 2 (2023, 10 MW AC), CSUF Trigeneration (2012, 4.3 MW AC), Orange Coast College PH2 Solar Project (2022, 3.1 MW AC), Anaheim Solar Energy Plant (2014, 2.1 MW AC) and CSUF Nutwood Solar (2016, 1.9 MW AC).^\[1\] The next are Alticor Inc - Solar Project (2017, 1.2 MW AC) and Kroger La Habra (2020, 1.2 MW AC), plus one more in the table above.^\[1\]

### Can I sell solar lease payments or royalties in Orange County?

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.

### When did solar plants in Orange County come online?

Of the plants with a recorded year, five came online in the 2010s and four in the 2020s.^\[1\] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.^\[2\]

### Which nearby California counties also have utility-scale solar plants?

Nearby California counties with utility-scale solar plants include Los Angeles County (1,822.2 MW AC), San Bernardino County (1,777.6 MW AC), San Diego County (165.3 MW AC), Riverside County (4,355.8 MW AC) and Kern County (5,692.8 MW AC).^\[1\]

## Related pages

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in California](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california)

[Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties)

[Oil and gas mineral rights in Orange County, California](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/california/orange-ca)

[Mineral rights in California](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/california)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Los Angeles County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california/los-angeles)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in San Bernardino County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california/san-bernardino)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in San Diego County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california/san-diego)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Riverside County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california/riverside)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Kern County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/california/kern)

## Sources

\[1\] [U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026)](https://energy.usgs.gov/uspvdb/) — U.S. Geological Survey and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[2\] [Solar Lease Considerations for Landowners](https://mytexas.ag.tamu.edu/publications/solar-lease-considerations-for-landowners/) — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[3\] [Farmer's Guide to Going Solar](https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/farmers-guide-going-solar) — U.S. Department of Energy (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[4\] [Farmland Owner's Guide to Solar Leasing](https://nationalaglawcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/articles/hall_solar_Leasing.pdf) — Ohio State University Extension and the National Agricultural Law Center (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[5\] [Solar explained: Where solar is found and used](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/where-solar-is-found.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

## Ready to Sell Your Solar Lease Payments or Royalties?

Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties.

[Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fsolar-lease-royalties%2Fcalifornia%2Forange&county=Orange+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When did solar plants in Orange County come online?**
Of the plants with a recorded year, five came online in the 2010s and four in the 2020s. Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.

## About Buckhead Energy
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days.

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