Quick answer
The plants came online between 2014 and 2024.[1] One of the 11 plants with a recorded mounting type use tracking systems that follow the sun, and 10 use fixed-tilt panels.[1] One plant has battery storage on site.[1]
| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis Solar | 2019 | 18 | Fixed tilt |
| Newfield Community Solar, LLC | 2019 | 6 | Fixed tilt |
| Enfield Solar Site 1 | 2024 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Enfield Solar Site 2 | 2024 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Enfield Solar Site 3 | 2024 | 5 | Fixed tilt |
| Lansing Renewables, LLC | 2020 | 5 | Tracking |
| Podunk Road (CSG) | 2019 | 2.2 | Fixed tilt |
| Tompkins Cortland Community College | 2015 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| Cornell Snyder Road Solar Array | 2014 | 1.8 | Fixed tilt |
| Enfield Community Solar | 2017 | 1.8 | Fixed tilt |
| Dryden Rd #2 Community Solar Farm (CSG) | 2019 | 1.3 | 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 2014.[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]
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.
Tompkins County, New York has 11 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 53.1 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 Ellis Solar (2019, 18 MW AC), Newfield Community Solar, LLC (2019, 6 MW AC), Enfield Solar Site 1 (2024, 5 MW AC), Enfield Solar Site 2 (2024, 5 MW AC), Enfield Solar Site 3 (2024, 5 MW AC) and Lansing Renewables, LLC (2020, 5 MW AC).[1] The next are Podunk Road (CSG) (2019, 2.2 MW AC) and Tompkins Cortland Community College (2015, 2 MW AC), plus three 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, seven came online in the 2010s and four in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby New York counties with utility-scale solar plants include Cortland County (52 MW AC), Chemung County (20.8 MW AC), Cayuga County (47.2 MW AC), Tioga County (75.8 MW AC) and Yates County (23.6 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
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Cortland County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Chemung County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Cayuga 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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