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Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Contra Costa County, California

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Contra Costa County, California has two operating wind projects with 71 turbines and 113.9 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).

Wind projects in Contra Costa County

The projects came online between 2006 and 2011.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Contra Costa County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Mitsubishi (38 turbines) and Siemens (33 turbines).[1]

ProjectOnlineTurbines in the countyCapacity in the county (MW)
Vasco (repower)20113375.9
Buena Vista20063838

Source: U.S. Wind Turbine Database (USGS, ACP, LBNL), version 9.1, released September 28, 2026. Data compiled November 3, 2026.

What the data means for wind lease owners in Contra Costa County

Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2006.[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 2011.[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 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. 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.

Frequently asked questions

How many wind projects are in Contra Costa County, California?

Contra Costa County, California has two operating wind projects with 71 turbines and 113.9 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]

Which wind projects operate in Contra Costa County?

The projects are Vasco (repower) (2011, 75.9 MW) and Buena Vista (2006, 38 MW).[1]

Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Contra Costa County?

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.

When did wind projects in Contra Costa County come online?

Of the projects with a recorded year, one came online in the 2000s and one in the 2010s.[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]

Which nearby California counties also have wind projects?

Nearby California counties with wind projects include Alameda County (212.9 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]

Related pages

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in California

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Oil and gas mineral rights in Contra Costa County, California

Mineral rights in California

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Contra Costa County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Alameda County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in San Joaquin County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Solano County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Yolo County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Monterey County

Sources

[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)

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