(817) 778-9532

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Mason County, Illinois

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Mason County, Illinois has two operating wind projects with 81 turbines and 355.9 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 Mason County

The projects came online between 2021 and 2023.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Vestas (81 turbines).[1]

ProjectOnlineTurbines in the countyCapacity in the county (MW)
Glacier Sands202143184.9
Moraine Sands Wind202338171

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 Mason County

Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2021.[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 2023.[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 Mason County, Illinois?

Mason County, Illinois has two operating wind projects with 81 turbines and 355.9 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 Mason County?

The projects are Glacier Sands (2021, 184.9 MW) and Moraine Sands Wind (2023, 171 MW).[1]

Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Mason 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 Mason County come online?

Of the projects with a recorded year, two came online 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]

Which nearby Illinois counties also have wind projects?

Nearby Illinois counties with wind projects include Tazewell County (57 MW), Logan County (699.8 MW), De Witt County (200.5 MW), Morgan County (301.7 MW) and Macon County (305.8 MW).[1]

Related pages

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Illinois

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Oil and gas mineral rights in Mason County, Illinois

Mineral rights in Illinois

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Mason County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Tazewell County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Logan County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in De Witt County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Morgan County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Macon 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)

[3] Wind explained: Where wind power is harnessed — 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