# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Kankakee County, Illinois > Kankakee County, Illinois: two wind projects, 155.7 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. - URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/kankakee - 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) › Kankakee County Quick answer Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Kankakee County, Illinois has two operating wind projects with 87 turbines and 155.7 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 Kankakee County The projects came online between 2015 and 2016.^\[1\] Every project here also has turbines outside Kankakee County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.^\[1\] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (61 turbines) and Vestas (26 turbines).^\[1\] | Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pilot Hill | 2015 | 61 | 103.7 | | Kelly Creek | 2016 | 26 | 52 | 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 Kankakee County Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2015.^\[1\] 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 2016.^\[1\] 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 Kankakee County, Illinois? Kankakee County, Illinois has two operating wind projects with 87 turbines and 155.7 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 Kankakee County? The projects are Pilot Hill (2015, 103.7 MW) and Kelly Creek (2016, 52 MW).^\[1\] ### Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Kankakee 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 Kankakee 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 Livingston County (350 MW), Iroquois County (249 MW), Ford County (375.6 MW), Grundy County (198 MW) and LaSalle County (514.4 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) [Oil and gas mineral rights in Kankakee County, Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/illinois/kankakee) [Mineral rights in Illinois](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/illinois) [Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Kankakee County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/illinois/kankakee) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Livingston County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/livingston) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iroquois County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/iroquois) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Ford County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/ford) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Grundy County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/grundy) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in LaSalle County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/illinois/lasalle) ## 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%2Fkankakee&county=Kankakee+County) ## Frequently Asked Questions **When did wind projects in Kankakee 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