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Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Monroe County, New York

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. Monroe County, New York has 28 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 108.2 MW (AC) of capacity in total, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).

Utility-scale solar plants in Monroe County

The plants came online between 2017 and 2024.[1] 13 of the 28 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 15 use fixed-tilt panels.[1]

PlantOnlineCapacity (MW AC)Mounting
Monroe County Sites C, D, & E20176Fixed tilt
Bodhi Solar20245Tracking
Buck Run20245Tracking
FFP - NY Werner CSG20245Fixed tilt
Hamlin Solar 1, LLC20205Tracking
Henrietta Solar20215Tracking
Mantisi20245Tracking
Redman South Community Solar20195Fixed tilt
Ridgeway 120235Tracking
Rush Solar20245Tracking
SCS Penfield One 010750 Penfield, LLC20225Tracking
Sweden 120215Fixed tilt
Hamlin 120214.5Fixed tilt
Wheatland 2A Solar20214.5Tracking
Wheatland 2B Solar20214.5Tracking
DG Moorman Creek20244.4Fixed tilt
Genesee - CCR Solar20223.7Fixed tilt
Wolf20243.6Tracking
Monroe County Sites A & B20173.4Fixed tilt
Ridgeway 220232.5Tracking
Washington St Community Solar Farm #320192.5Fixed tilt
Washington St Community Solar Farm #420202.5Fixed tilt
Washington St Community Solar Farm #120202.2Fixed tilt
Burritt Rd Community Solar Farm20202Fixed tilt
Whittier20192Tracking

3 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.

What the data means for solar lease owners in Monroe County

The oldest utility-scale solar plant in the county came online in 2017.[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]

Solar leases in New York

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 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.[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.

Frequently asked questions

How many utility-scale solar plants are in Monroe County, New York?

Monroe County, New York has 28 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 108.2 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]

Which solar plants operate in Monroe County?

The largest plants are Monroe County Sites C, D, & E (2017, 6 MW AC), Bodhi Solar (2024, 5 MW AC), Buck Run (2024, 5 MW AC), FFP - NY Werner CSG (2024, 5 MW AC), Hamlin Solar 1, LLC (2020, 5 MW AC) and Henrietta Solar (2021, 5 MW AC).[1] The next are Mantisi (2024, 5 MW AC) and Redman South Community Solar (2019, 5 MW AC), plus 17 more in the table above and three smaller ones the table does not list.[1]

Can I sell solar lease payments or royalties in Monroe County?

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 did solar plants in Monroe County come online?

Of the plants with a recorded year, seven came online in the 2010s and 21 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]

Which nearby New York counties also have utility-scale solar plants?

Nearby New York counties with utility-scale solar plants include Livingston County (213 MW AC), Orleans County (33.5 MW AC), Genesee County (46.9 MW AC), Wayne County (20.9 MW AC) and Ontario County (48.2 MW AC).[1]

What does New York law say about solar leases?

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]

Related pages

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in New York

Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties

Mineral rights in New York

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Livingston County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Orleans County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Genesee County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Wayne County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Ontario County

Sources

[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)

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