# Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Kentucky

> Kentucky: 17 utility-scale solar plants in 13 counties, 794.3 MW (AC). Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
- Format: full-content Markdown twin of the page (same content as the HTML; site navigation and footer removed)

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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. Kentucky has 17 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 794.3 MW (AC) of capacity across 13 counties, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).

## Utility-scale solar plants by county in Kentucky

Meade County, Logan County and Henderson County have the most utility-scale solar capacity in Kentucky, with 200 MW (AC), 173 MW (AC) and 160 MW (AC).^\[1\]

Utility-scale solar plants in Kentucky came online between 2016 and 2025.^\[1\]

The table lists the six counties with at least 20 MW (AC) in total, each with its own page.^\[1\] Counties with less than 20 MW (AC) in total: Mercer County (10 MW), Clark County (8.5 MW), Kenton County (6.4 MW), Simpson County (6 MW), Grant County (2.7 MW), Shelby County (2.1 MW) and Boone County (2 MW).^\[1\]

| County | Plants | Capacity (MW AC) | Online |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Meade County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky/meade) | 1 | 200 | 2025 |
| [Logan County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky/logan) | 1 | 173 | 2024 |
| [Henderson County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky/henderson) | 1 | 160 | 2025 |
| [Martin County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky/martin) | 1 | 111 | 2024 |
| [Garrard County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky/garrard) | 1 | 57.6 | 2021 |
| [Metcalfe County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/kentucky/metcalfe) | 1 | 55 | 2024 |

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

## How solar leases pay

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.^\[2\] 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.^\[3\] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.^\[4\]

## 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.^\[3\] The land can be converted back to agricultural uses at the end of the installation's operational life.^\[2\]

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 Kentucky?

Kentucky has 17 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 794.3 MW (AC) of capacity across 13 counties, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).^\[1\]

### Which Kentucky counties have the most solar capacity?

By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Meade County (200 MW AC), Logan County (173 MW AC), Henderson County (160 MW AC), Martin County (111 MW AC) and Garrard County (57.6 MW AC).^\[1\]

### Can I sell solar lease payments or royalties in Kentucky?

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 were Kentucky's utility-scale solar plants built?

Of the plants with a recorded year, seven came online in the 2010s and 10 in the 2020s.^\[1\] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.^\[4\]

## Related pages

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

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

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Kentucky](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky)

## 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)

\[2\] [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)

\[3\] [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)

\[4\] [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)

## 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%2Fkentucky)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When were Kentucky's utility-scale solar plants built?**
Of the plants with a recorded year, seven came online in the 2010s and 10 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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