# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Champaign County, Illinois > Champaign County, Illinois: two wind projects, 48.6 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. - URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/champaign - Last updated: 2026-11-03 - Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) - Format: full-content Markdown twin of the page (same content as the HTML; site navigation and footer removed) Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties) › [Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois) › Champaign County Quick answer Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Champaign County, Illinois has two operating wind projects with 31 turbines and 48.6 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 Champaign County The projects came online between 2012 and 2017.^\[1\] One of these projects also has turbines outside Champaign County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.^\[1\] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (30 turbines).^\[1\] One of the 31 turbines in the county has 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) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | California Ridge | 2012 | 30 | 48.6 | | TAC-Distributed Wind | 2017 | 1 | Not recorded | 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 Champaign County Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2012.^\[1\] 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 2017.^\[1\] 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.^\[2\] ## Wind leases in Illinois The five states with the most electricity generation from wind in 2025 were Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois.^\[3\] ## 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 Champaign County, Illinois? Champaign County, Illinois has two operating wind projects with 31 turbines and 48.6 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).^\[1\] One of the 31 turbines in the county has no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.^\[1\] ### Which wind projects operate in Champaign County? The projects are California Ridge (2012, 48.6 MW) and TAC-Distributed Wind (2017).^\[1\] ### Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Champaign 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 Champaign County come online? Of the projects with a recorded year, two came online 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 Illinois counties also have wind projects? Nearby Illinois counties with wind projects include Vermilion County (266.5 MW), Douglas County (199.8 MW), Ford County (375.6 MW), Piatt County (300 MW) and Iroquois County (249 MW).^\[1\] ## Related pages [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois) [Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties) [Mineral rights in Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/illinois) [Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Champaign County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/illinois/champaign) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Vermilion County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/vermilion) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Douglas County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/douglas) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Ford County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/ford) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Piatt County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/piatt) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iroquois County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/iroquois) ## Sources \[1\] [U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026)](https://energy.usgs.gov/uswtdb/) — 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](https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Publications/Research/Biomass-Solar-Wind/NY-Wind-Energy-Guide-3.pdf) — New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (accessed November 1, 2026) \[3\] [Wind explained: Where wind power is harnessed](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/where-wind-power-is-harnessed.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) ## Ready to Sell Your Wind Lease Payments or Royalties? Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. [Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fwind-royalties%2Fillinois%2Fchampaign&county=Champaign+County) ## Frequently Asked Questions **When did wind projects in Champaign County come online?** Of the projects with a recorded year, two came online in the 2010s. 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. ## About Buckhead Energy Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days. **Sell mineral rights:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell **Operator directory:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators