Quick answer
Pecos County, Lamar County and Wharton County have the most utility-scale solar capacity in Texas, with 2,073.3 MW (AC), 1,169.5 MW (AC) and 1,090 MW (AC).[1]
Utility-scale solar plants in Texas came online between 2010 and 2025.[1]
The table lists the 64 counties with at least 20 MW (AC) in total, each with its own page.[1] Counties with less than 20 MW (AC) in total: El Paso County (16.9 MW), Coryell County (15.4 MW), Austin County (11.6 MW), Howard County (10 MW), Karnes County (10 MW), Presidio County (10 MW), Erath County (9.9 MW), Brooks County (9.5 MW), Collin County (7.7 MW), Menard County (7.5 MW) and Wilson County (7 MW).[1] Also with less than 20 MW (AC) in total: Guadalupe County (4.9 MW), Lubbock County (4.4 MW), Dallas County (4.1 MW), Tarrant County (4 MW), Upshur County (3 MW), Harris County (1.9 MW), Real County (1.5 MW) and Williamson County (1.4 MW).[1]
Source: U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USGS, LBNL), version 4.0, released April 14, 2026. Data compiled November 1, 2026.
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.[2] 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.[3] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[4]
Texas's solar power facility agreement law, Utilities Code Chapter 302, applies only to agreements entered into on or after September 1, 2021; an earlier agreement is governed by the law as it existed before that date.[5]
In Texas, a solar power facility agreement entered into on or after September 1, 2021 for a facility that is a generation asset must make the grantee responsible for removing its facilities and must require financial assurance for that removal.[5]
Chapter 302 as amended in 2025 by H.B. 3228 applies only to agreements entered into on or after September 1, 2025; an agreement entered into before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before it.[6]
Texas law counts a battery energy storage facility that supports a solar energy device as part of the solar power facility covered by the solar agreement.[7]
Under a 2025 Texas law, a solar power facility agreement entered into on or after September 1, 2025 that authorizes a battery energy storage facility, meaning a battery energy storage resource with a capacity of one megawatt hour or greater as the law defines it, must also make the grantee responsible for recycling or properly disposing of the battery components.[8]
Ground-mounted solar arrays in Texas require an average of 6.9 acres per megawatt of capacity.[9]
In 2025, Texas accounted for the largest share of total U.S. utility-scale solar electricity generation, followed by California.[10]
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.[3] The land can be converted back to agricultural uses at the end of the installation's operational life.[2]
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.
Texas has 187 utility-scale solar plants of at least 1 MW, with 23,033 MW (AC) of capacity across 83 counties, according to the U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (version 4.0, released April 14, 2026).[1]
By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Pecos County (2,073.3 MW AC), Lamar County (1,169.5 MW AC), Wharton County (1,090 MW AC), Andrews County (1,074.3 MW AC) and Fort Bend County (1,018.4 MW AC).[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, 65 came online in the 2010s and 122 in the 2020s.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[4]
Texas's solar power facility agreement law, Utilities Code Chapter 302, applies only to agreements entered into on or after September 1, 2021; an earlier agreement is governed by the law as it existed before that date.[5] In Texas, a solar power facility agreement entered into on or after September 1, 2021 for a facility that is a generation asset must make the grantee responsible for removing its facilities and must require financial assurance for that removal.[5]
Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties
[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] Farmer's Guide to Going Solar — U.S. Department of Energy (accessed November 1, 2026)
[3] Farmland Owner's Guide to Solar Leasing — Ohio State University Extension and the National Agricultural Law Center (accessed November 1, 2026)
[4] Solar Lease Considerations for Landowners — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (accessed November 1, 2026)
[5] S.B. 760 (87th Legislature, 2021), enrolled: solar power facility agreements — Texas Legislature (accessed November 3, 2026)
[6] H.B. 3228 (89th Legislature, 2025), enrolled: wind and solar power facility lease provisions — Texas Legislature (accessed November 3, 2026)
[7] Texas Utilities Code, Chapter 302: Solar Power Facility Agreements — Texas Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026)
[8] H.B. 3809 (89th Legislature, 2025), enrolled: removal of battery energy storage facilities — Texas Legislature (accessed November 3, 2026)
[9] Understanding Alternative Energy: Wind and Solar Energy Systems on Texas Rangelands — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (accessed November 1, 2026)
[10] 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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