# Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Minnesota > Minnesota: 514 utility-scale solar plants in 50 counties, 1,596.6 MW (AC). Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. - URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota - 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) Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties) › Minnesota Quick answer Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. Minnesota has 514 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 1,596.6 MW (AC) of capacity across 50 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 Minnesota Sherburne County, Chisago County and Stearns County have the most utility-scale solar capacity in Minnesota, with 285.4 MW (AC), 184.1 MW (AC) and 89 MW (AC).^\[1\] Utility-scale solar plants in Minnesota came online between 2013 and 2025.^\[1\] The table lists the 22 counties with at least 20 MW (AC) in total, each with its own page.^\[1\] Counties with less than 20 MW (AC) in total: Chippewa County (18.1 MW), Winona County (17.8 MW), Isanti County (15.9 MW), Cass County (15.2 MW), Wabasha County (13.6 MW), Steele County (13.4 MW), Pipestone County (13.3 MW), Hennepin County (13.2 MW), Kandiyohi County (12.8 MW) and Nicollet County (12 MW).^\[1\] Also with less than 20 MW (AC) in total: Morrison County (10.8 MW), Scott County (10.1 MW), Redwood County (9.1 MW), Douglas County (8 MW), Murray County (7.7 MW), Sibley County (7.3 MW), St. Louis County (7.2 MW), Yellow Medicine County (7 MW), Clay County (6 MW), Crow Wing County (5.8 MW) and Meeker County (5 MW).^\[1\] Also with less than 20 MW (AC) in total: Freeborn County (3.5 MW), Anoka County (3.4 MW), Pine County (3 MW), Faribault County (1.8 MW), Carlton County (1 MW), Itasca County (1 MW) and Red Lake County (1 MW).^\[1\] | County | Plants | Capacity (MW AC) | Online | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Sherburne County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/sherburne) | 26 | 285.4 | 2017–2025 | | [Chisago County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/chisago) | 45 | 184.1 | 2016–2025 | | [Stearns County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/stearns) | 37 | 89 | 2016–2025 | | [Lyon County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/lyon) | 7 | 79 | 2017–2024 | | [Wright County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/wright) | 22 | 69.4 | 2016–2023 | | [Dakota County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/dakota) | 22 | 61.2 | 2016–2025 | | [Fillmore County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/fillmore) | 4 | 52 | 2021–2024 | | [Mower County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/mower) | 1 | 50 | 2024 | | [Otter Tail County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/otter-tail) | 1 | 49.9 | 2022 | | [Rice County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/rice) | 22 | 48.5 | 2016–2021 | | [Goodhue County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/goodhue) | 25 | 46.4 | 2016–2021 | | [Washington County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/washington) | 15 | 42.6 | 2016–2024 | | [Carver County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/carver) | 17 | 42.4 | 2016–2024 | | [Waseca County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/waseca) | 18 | 33.4 | 2016–2022 | | [Dodge County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/dodge) | 17 | 33.1 | 2016–2025 | | [Blue Earth County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/blue-earth) | 16 | 32.2 | 2016–2023 | | [Le Sueur County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/le-sueur) | 13 | 30.2 | 2016–2022 | | [Pope County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/pope) | 19 | 28.5 | 2017–2023 | | [McLeod County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/mcleod) | 15 | 25.5 | 2017–2023 | | [Renville County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/renville) | 23 | 25 | 2017–2025 | | [Benton County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/benton) | 15 | 24.8 | 2017–2022 | | [Olmsted County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/minnesota/olmsted) | 7 | 20 | 2017–2023 | 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 Minnesota? Minnesota has 514 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 1,596.6 MW (AC) of capacity across 50 counties, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).^\[1\] ### Which Minnesota counties have the most solar capacity? By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Sherburne County (285.4 MW AC), Chisago County (184.1 MW AC), Stearns County (89 MW AC), Lyon County (79 MW AC) and Wright County (69.4 MW AC).^\[1\] ### Can I sell solar lease payments or royalties in Minnesota? 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 Minnesota's utility-scale solar plants built? Of the plants with a recorded year, 252 came online in the 2010s and 262 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) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Minnesota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/minnesota) ## 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%2Fminnesota) ## Frequently Asked Questions **When were Minnesota's utility-scale solar plants built?** Of the plants with a recorded year, 252 came online in the 2010s and 262 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. **Sell mineral rights:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell **Operator directory:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators