Quick answer
The projects came online between 2009 and 2012.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Elmore County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Siemens (60 turbines), Suzlon (31 turbines) and GE Wind (29 turbines).[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Springs | 2012 | 60 | 138 |
| Mountain Home | 2009 | 20 | 42 |
| High Mesa | 2012 | 11 | 23.1 |
| Camp Reed | 2010 | 15 | 22.5 |
| Sawtooth | 2011 | 14 | 22.4 |
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 2009.[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 2012.[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.
Elmore County, Idaho has five operating wind projects with 120 turbines and 248 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]
The projects are Cold Springs (2012, 138 MW), Mountain Home (2009, 42 MW), High Mesa (2012, 23.1 MW), Camp Reed (2010, 22.5 MW) and Sawtooth (2011, 22.4 MW).[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, one came online in the 2000s and four 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]
Nearby Idaho counties with wind projects include Twin Falls County (183 MW), Cassia County (51 MW), Power County (124.2 MW), Bingham County (182.3 MW) and Bonneville County (343.8 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Idaho
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Elmore County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Twin Falls County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cassia County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Power 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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