Quick answer
The projects came online between 1985 and 2026.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Alameda County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (91 turbines), Vestas (31 turbines) and Nordtank (5 turbines).[1]
19 of the 148 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Hills | 2015 | 48 | 81.6 |
| Summit Wind Repowering | 2021 | 23 | 62.1 |
| Golden Hills North | 2017 | 20 | 46 |
| Diablo Winds | 2004 | 31 | 20.5 |
| Vasco (repower) | 2011 | 1 | 2.3 |
| Patterson Wind | 1985 | 5 | 0.3 |
| Patterson Pass | 1985 | 1 | 0.1 |
| Unnamed project (Alameda County) | 2026 | 19 | Not recorded |
Source: U.S. Wind Turbine Database (USGS, ACP, LBNL), version 9.1, released September 28, 2026. Data compiled November 3, 2026.
Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 1985.[1] Wind power leases generally have terms of 20 to 40 years, often with an option to extend, while a typical utility-scale wind power project has a useful life of 20 years.[2] The newest project here came online in 2026.[1] In royalty arrangements, the developer pays the landowner a percentage of the revenue received from the electricity produced by the turbines.[2] Minimum payments serve as a floor so landowners receive some revenue even when maintenance outages or lower winds cut production in a given year.[2]
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. A wind lease rents land for a term of years, and wind power leases generally have terms of 20 to 40 years, often with an option for extending the lease.[2] Under a wind lease, the landowner typically keeps the right to continue to grow crops, raise cattle or otherwise use the land outside the project.[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.
Alameda County, California has eight operating wind projects with 148 turbines and 212.9 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1] 19 of the 148 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
The projects are Golden Hills (2015, 81.6 MW), Summit Wind Repowering (2021, 62.1 MW), Golden Hills North (2017, 46 MW), Diablo Winds (2004, 20.5 MW), Vasco (repower) (2011, 2.3 MW), Patterson Wind (1985, 0.3 MW), Patterson Pass (1985, 0.1 MW) and Unnamed project (Alameda County) (2026).[1]
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind 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 projects with a recorded year, two came online in the 1980s, one in the 2000s, three in the 2010s and two in the 2020s.[1] Wind power leases generally have terms of 20 to 40 years, often with an option to extend, while a typical utility-scale wind power project has a useful life of 20 years.[2]
Nearby California counties with wind projects include Contra Costa County (113.9 MW), San Joaquin County (3.5 MW), Solano County (1,095.7 MW), Yolo County (1.5 MW) and Monterey County (16.4 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in California
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Oil and gas mineral rights in Alameda County, California
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Contra Costa County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in San Joaquin County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Solano County
[1] U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026) — U.S. Geological Survey, American Clean Power Association and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (accessed November 1, 2026)
[2] New York Wind Energy Guide for Local Decision Makers: Land Agreements — New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.
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