Quick answer
The plants came online between 2012 and 2022.[1] Two of the 31 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 29 use fixed-tilt panels.[1] 11 plants have battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon Solar, LLC | 2022 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Pulpit Hill | 2019 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| West Haydenville PJ Community Solar | 2022 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Westhampton | 2020 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| CED Northampton Solar, LLC Hybrid | 2019 | 4.3 | Fixed tilt |
| Belchertown Renewables Community Solar | 2018 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
| UMASS | 2016 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
| West Brookfield Solar-Gilbertsville Rd (CSG) | 2017 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
| Williamsburg | 2019 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
| Hadley 3 Solar (North) | 2019 | 3.9 | Fixed tilt |
| Hatfield Solar PV | 2018 | 3.6 | Fixed tilt |
| Montague Road Solar | 2021 | 3.6 | Fixed tilt |
| Syncarpha Northampton Hybrid (CSG) | 2020 | 3.6 | Fixed tilt |
| Hampshire College Hybrid | 2017 | 3.4 | Fixed tilt |
| Granby Solar, LLC (CSG) | 2021 | 3 | Fixed tilt |
| Ware Palmer Road Solar, LLC (CSG) | 2021 | 3 | Fixed tilt |
| Easthampton (CSG) | 2020 | 2.5 | Fixed tilt |
| Kearsarge Granby | 2017 | 2.5 | Fixed tilt |
| Town of Amherst Solar | 2022 | 2.5 | Fixed tilt |
| Northampton Landfill Solar PV | 2017 | 2.4 | Fixed tilt |
| Williamsburg Solar, LLC VNEM (CSG) | 2016 | 2.2 | Fixed tilt |
| UMass PV Lot 22 | 2022 | 2.1 | Tracking |
| Hadley 3 Solar (South) | 2019 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Hadley Solar NG, LLC | 2014 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Plainfield Community Solar, LLC | 2019 | 2 | Tracking |
6 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 2012.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2] The newest came online in 2022.[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]
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.
Hampshire County, Massachusetts has 31 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 94.7 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 Beacon Solar, LLC (2022, 5 MW AC), Pulpit Hill (2019, 5 MW AC), West Haydenville PJ Community Solar (2022, 5 MW AC), Westhampton (2020, 5 MW AC) and CED Northampton Solar, LLC Hybrid (2019, 4.3 MW AC).[1] The next are Belchertown Renewables Community Solar (2018, 4 MW AC), UMASS (2016, 4 MW AC) and West Brookfield Solar-Gilbertsville Rd (CSG) (2017, 4 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and six 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, 20 came online in the 2010s and 11 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby Massachusetts counties with utility-scale solar plants include Hampden County (185 MW AC), Franklin County (59.9 MW AC), Berkshire County (75.5 MW AC), Worcester County (445.2 MW AC) and Middlesex County (101.5 MW AC).[1]
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Massachusetts
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Hampden County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Franklin County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Berkshire 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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