# Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Pennington County, South Dakota

> Pennington County, South Dakota: one utility-scale solar plant, 128 MW (AC). Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/southdakota/pennington
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
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Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties) › [South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/southdakota) › Pennington County

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. Pennington County, South Dakota has one utility-scale solar plant of at least 1 MW, with 128 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 Pennington County

The plant came online in 2024.^\[1\] The plant uses a tracking system that follows the sun.^\[1\]

| Plant | Online | Capacity (MW AC) | Mounting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wild Springs | 2024 | 128 | Tracking |

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 Pennington County

Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.^\[2\] 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 South Dakota

South Dakota bars severing wind or solar energy rights from the surface estate but allows them to be leased for up to fifty years, with lease payments made annually.^\[6\]

## 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 Pennington County, South Dakota?

Pennington County, South Dakota has one utility-scale solar plant of at least 1 MW, with 128 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 Pennington County?

The plant is Wild Springs (2024, 128 MW AC).^\[1\]

### Can I sell solar lease payments or royalties in Pennington 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 Pennington County come online?

The plant came online in 2024.^\[1\] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.^\[2\]

### Which nearby South Dakota counties also have utility-scale solar plants?

Nearby South Dakota counties with utility-scale solar plants include Fall River County (80 MW AC).^\[1\]

### What does South Dakota law say about solar leases?

South Dakota bars severing wind or solar energy rights from the surface estate but allows them to be leased for up to fifty years, with lease payments made annually.^\[6\]

## Related pages

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/southdakota)

[Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties)

[Mineral rights in South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/southdakota)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Fall River County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/southdakota/fall-river)

## 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)

\[2\] [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)

\[3\] [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)

\[4\] [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)

\[5\] [Solar explained: Where solar is found and used](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/solar/where-solar-is-found.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[6\] [South Dakota Codified Laws 43-13-19: Severance of wind or solar energy rights limited](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/43-13-19.html) — South Dakota Legislature (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%2Fsouthdakota%2Fpennington&county=Pennington+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When did solar plants in Pennington County come online?**
The plant came online in 2024. 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.

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