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Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Grimes County, Texas

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys solar lease payments and solar royalties. Grimes County, Texas has one utility-scale solar plant of at least 1 MW, with 210 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 Grimes County

The plant came online in 2021.[1] The plant uses a tracking system that follows the sun.[1]

PlantOnlineCapacity (MW AC)Mounting
Blue Jay Solar I, LLC2021210Tracking

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 Grimes 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 Texas

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.[6]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

Ground-mounted solar arrays in Texas require an average of 6.9 acres per megawatt of capacity.[10]

In 2025, Texas accounted for the largest share of total U.S. utility-scale solar electricity generation, followed by California.[5]

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 Grimes County, Texas?

Grimes County, Texas has one utility-scale solar plant of at least 1 MW, with 210 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 Grimes County?

The plant is Blue Jay Solar I, LLC (2021, 210 MW AC).[1]

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

The plant came online in 2021.[1] Solar lease agreements can last 20 to 30 years.[2]

Which nearby Texas counties also have utility-scale solar plants?

Nearby Texas counties with utility-scale solar plants include Milam County (790 MW AC), Falls County (594.1 MW AC), Bell County (555.4 MW AC), Polk County (150 MW AC) and Limestone County (400 MW AC).[1]

What does Texas law say about solar leases?

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.[6] 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.[6]

Related pages

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Texas

Selling Solar Lease Payments and Solar Royalties

Oil and gas mineral rights in Grimes County, Texas

Mineral rights in Texas

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Milam County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Falls County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Bell County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Polk County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Limestone 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] S.B. 760 (87th Legislature, 2021), enrolled: solar power facility agreements — Texas Legislature (accessed November 3, 2026)

[7] H.B. 3228 (89th Legislature, 2025), enrolled: wind and solar power facility lease provisions — Texas Legislature (accessed November 3, 2026)

[8] Texas Utilities Code, Chapter 302: Solar Power Facility Agreements — Texas Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026)

[9] H.B. 3809 (89th Legislature, 2025), enrolled: removal of battery energy storage facilities — Texas Legislature (accessed November 3, 2026)

[10] Understanding Alternative Energy: Wind and Solar Energy Systems on Texas Rangelands — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (accessed November 1, 2026)

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