Quick answer
The plants came online between 2016 and 2025.[1] Nine of the 20 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 11 use fixed-tilt panels.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Community Solar | 2023 | 5 | Tracking |
| Broadway CDG Solar, LLC | 2023 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Corning Riverview (CSG) | 2020 | 5 | Tracking |
| DOCCS Wende | 2021 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Main Rd Community Solar | 2022 | 5 | Tracking |
| Millersport GM 1 | 2022 | 5 | Tracking |
| NY Grand Island 871 Whitehaven Rd Solar | 2024 | 5 | Tracking |
| NY Lancaster Gunnville Rd Site 1 Solar CSG | 2024 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Bullis Road Solar (CSG) | 2021 | 4.5 | Tracking |
| NY Evans 7690 SW Blvd - SL Evans Array 1 | 2025 | 4.3 | Not recorded |
| Comfort CSG | 2024 | 4 | Tracking |
| NY Evans 7690 SW Blvd - SL Evans Array 2 | 2025 | 4 | Not recorded |
| Gowans (CSG) | 2025 | 3.8 | Not recorded |
| Burns Road Solar | 2024 | 3.2 | Tracking |
| AES Tonawanda Solar, LLC | 2020 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Big Tree Community Solar Farm | 2021 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Buffalo NY GigaFactory | 2022 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Chambers 3 - Erie County Alden | 2018 | 2 | Tracking |
| Steel Sun | 2016 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Steel Sun 2: 2303-III-2 Hamburg Turnpike | 2019 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Steel Sun 2: 2303-III-4 Hamburg Turnpike | 2019 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Steel Sun 2: 2303-III-9 Hamburg Turnpike | 2019 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Bizer Creek | 2022 | 1.5 | Fixed tilt |
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 2016.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2] The newest came online in 2025.[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]
Some solar leases limit what the landowner may do with the payments: an example lease published by a New York State commission bars the landowner from severing the lease payments or assigning them to a third party without the developer's consent.[6]
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.
Erie County, New York has 23 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 81.3 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 Amherst Community Solar (2023, 5 MW AC), Broadway CDG Solar, LLC (2023, 5 MW AC), Corning Riverview (CSG) (2020, 5 MW AC), DOCCS Wende (2021, 5 MW AC), Main Rd Community Solar (2022, 5 MW AC) and Millersport GM 1 (2022, 5 MW AC).[1] The next are NY Grand Island 871 Whitehaven Rd Solar (2024, 5 MW AC) and NY Lancaster Gunnville Rd Site 1 Solar CSG (2024, 5 MW AC), plus 15 more in the table above.[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, five came online in the 2010s and 18 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby New York counties with utility-scale solar plants include Niagara County (58.7 MW AC), Genesee County (46.9 MW AC), Orleans County (33.5 MW AC), Chautauqua County (57.5 MW AC) and Cattaraugus County (39.5 MW AC).[1]
Some solar leases limit what the landowner may do with the payments: an example lease published by a New York State commission bars the landowner from severing the lease payments or assigning them to a third party without the developer's consent.[6]
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in New York
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Erie County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Niagara County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Genesee County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Orleans 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)
[6] Planning for Offsite Solar Energy Projects (Issue Paper Series, example solar lease) — New York State Tug Hill Commission (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties.
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