Quick answer
The projects came online between 2008 and 2020.[1] Three of these projects also have turbines outside Adair County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Vestas (386 turbines), Siemens (74 turbines) and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (54 turbines).[1]
Four of the 526 turbines in the county have 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orient 2019 | 2019 | 190 | 392.2 |
| Arbor Hill | 2018 | 125 | 250 |
| Adair | 2008 | 64 | 147.2 |
| Morning Light | 2012 | 45 | 112.4 |
| Orient I | 2018 | 50 | 100 |
| Arbor Hill 2019 | 2020 | 17 | 61.4 |
| Rolling Hills | 2011 | 19 | 45.2 |
| Southern Hills Expansion | 2020 | 4 | 8.8 |
| Wind GEM | 2015 | 1 | 1.9 |
| Sky Volt | 2012 | 1 | 1.7 |
| Cumberland Rose | 2012 | 1 | 1.6 |
| Forward Fontanelle | 2012 | 1 | 1.6 |
| Greenfield Wind | 2012 | 1 | 1.6 |
| Meadow Ridge | 2012 | 1 | 1.6 |
| Bulldog | 2010 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Wolverine | 2010 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Unnamed project (Adair County) | 2020 | 4 | Not recorded |
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 2008.[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 2020.[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.
Adair County, Iowa has 17 operating wind projects with 526 turbines and 1,130.2 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1] Four of the 526 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
The projects are Orient 2019 (2019, 392.2 MW), Arbor Hill (2018, 250 MW), Adair (2008, 147.2 MW), Morning Light (2012, 112.4 MW), Orient I (2018, 100 MW), Arbor Hill 2019 (2020, 61.4 MW), Rolling Hills (2011, 45.2 MW) and Southern Hills Expansion (2020, 8.8 MW), plus nine more in the table above.[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, 13 in the 2010s and three 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 Iowa counties with wind projects include Union County (141.9 MW), Cass County (422.4 MW), Madison County (119.6 MW), Guthrie County (149.9 MW) and Adams County (349.9 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iowa
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Adair County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Union County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cass County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Madison 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.
Get a Free Written Offer