Quick answer
The plants came online between 2013 and 2025.[1] Six of the 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Bridge Solar (Brown University) | 2023 | 40 | Tracking |
| Alton Road Solar | 2019 | 13.9 | Fixed tilt |
| GD Hopkinton Main I, LLC | 2020 | 10.6 | Fixed tilt |
| Exeter Renewables 1 | 2024 | 10 | Tracking |
| White Rock Road, LLC | 2022 | 6.5 | Tracking |
| GD Richmond Beaver River I LLC | 2025 | 5.3 | Not recorded |
| Exeter Mail CSG | 2025 | 5 | Not recorded |
| Woodville Solar (CSG) | 2024 | 4.5 | Tracking |
| Kearsarge Westerly | 2020 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
| Richmond NMCA | 2018 | 4 | Fixed tilt |
| Kearsarge SKSC1, LLC | 2018 | 3.8 | Fixed tilt |
| Kearsarge SKSC2, LLC | 2018 | 3.1 | Fixed tilt |
| WED Kingstown Solar I-East Array | 2017 | 3 | Fixed tilt |
| Exeter Ten (CSG) | 2024 | 2.8 | Fixed tilt |
| WED Stilson Solar | 2017 | 2 | Fixed tilt |
| West Davisville Solar | 2013 | 2 | Tracking |
| North Kingstown Solar, LLC | 2022 | 1.9 | Tracking |
| WED Kingstown Solar I, LLC-West | 2017 | 1.5 | Fixed tilt |
| GD Richmond Buttonwoods I, LLC | 2020 | 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 2013.[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]
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.
Washington County, Rhode Island has 19 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 125.2 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]
The largest plants are Dry Bridge Solar (Brown University) (2023, 40 MW AC), Alton Road Solar (2019, 13.9 MW AC), GD Hopkinton Main I, LLC (2020, 10.6 MW AC), Exeter Renewables 1 (2024, 10 MW AC) and White Rock Road, LLC (2022, 6.5 MW AC).[1] The next are GD Richmond Beaver River I LLC (2025, 5.3 MW AC), Exeter Mail CSG (2025, 5 MW AC) and Woodville Solar (CSG) (2024, 4.5 MW AC), plus 11 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, eight came online in the 2010s and 11 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]
Nearby Rhode Island counties with utility-scale solar plants include Kent County (111.8 MW AC), Newport County (37.7 MW AC) and Providence County (135.8 MW AC).[1]
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Rhode Island
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Washington County
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Kent 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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