Quick answer
The plants came online between 2007 and 2024.[1] 47 of the 62 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 15 use fixed-tilt panels.[1] 15 plants have battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Sunlight 300, LLC | 2014 | 313.7 | Fixed tilt |
| Desert Quartzite | 2024 | 300 | Tracking |
| McCoy Solar Energy Project Hybrid | 2016 | 270.6 | Tracking |
| Arica Solar | 2024 | 263 | Tracking |
| Athos Solar Project | 2019 | 250 | Tracking |
| Oberon II Solar Project | 2023 | 250 | Tracking |
| Oberon Solar Project | 2022 | 250 | Tracking |
| Desert Sunlight 250, LLC | 2014 | 249.7 | Fixed tilt |
| Arlington Energy Center II | 2021 | 233 | Tracking |
| Blythe Mesa Solar II | 2021 | 223.6 | Tracking |
| SE Athos II, LLC | 2021 | 200 | Tracking |
| Victory Pass | 2024 | 200 | Tracking |
| Blythe Solar III, LLC Hybrid | 2020 | 137.4 | Tracking |
| Blythe Solar IV, LLC | 2015 | 137.4 | Tracking |
| Maverick Solar 7, LLC | 2021 | 132 | Tracking |
| Blythe Solar II, LLC | 2016 | 131.2 | Tracking |
| Maverick Solar, LLC | 2020 | 125 | Tracking |
| Blythe Solar 110, LLC | 2016 | 109.8 | Tracking |
| Maverick Solar 4, LLC | 2021 | 100 | Tracking |
| Maverick Solar 6, LLC | 2021 | 100 | Tracking |
| Desert Harvest, LLC | 2020 | 80 | Tracking |
| Colgreen North Shore Solar Farm | 2018 | 74.8 | Tracking |
| Desert Harvest II, LLC | 2020 | 70 | Tracking |
| Solar Blythe 2 | 2017 | 21 | Tracking |
| Solar Blythe, LLC | 2009 | 21 | Fixed tilt |
37 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 2007.[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.
Riverside County, California has 62 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 4,355.8 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 Desert Sunlight 300, LLC (2014, 313.7 MW AC), Desert Quartzite (2024, 300 MW AC), McCoy Solar Energy Project Hybrid (2016, 270.6 MW AC), Arica Solar (2024, 263 MW AC) and Athos Solar Project (2019, 250 MW AC).[1] The next are Oberon II Solar Project (2023, 250 MW AC), Oberon Solar Project (2022, 250 MW AC) and Desert Sunlight 250, LLC (2014, 249.7 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and 37 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, three came online in the 2000s, 34 in the 2010s and 25 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby California counties with utility-scale solar plants include Imperial County (2,106.3 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 Riverside County, California
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Riverside County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Imperial 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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