Quick answer
The projects came online between 2011 and 2022.[1] Two of these projects also have turbines outside Ford County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (120 turbines) and Vestas (66 turbines).[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Creek | 2016 | 66 | 132 |
| Pioneer Trail | 2011 | 77 | 123.2 |
| Ford Ridge | 2022 | 43 | 120.4 |
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 2011.[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 2022.[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]
The five states with the most electricity generation from wind in 2025 were Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois.[3]
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.
Ford County, Illinois has three operating wind projects with 186 turbines and 375.6 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 Kelly Creek (2016, 132 MW), Pioneer Trail (2011, 123.2 MW) and Ford Ridge (2022, 120.4 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, two came online in the 2010s and one 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 Illinois counties with wind projects include Iroquois County (249 MW), Kankakee County (155.7 MW), Livingston County (350 MW), Champaign County (48.6 MW) and Vermilion County (266.5 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Illinois
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iroquois County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Kankakee County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Livingston 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)
[3] Wind explained: Where wind power is harnessed — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.
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