Quick answer
The projects came online between 1999 and 2017.[1] Four of these projects also have turbines outside Buena Vista County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Enron (228 turbines), GE Wind (24 turbines) and Mitsubishi (6 turbines).[1]
One of the 259 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake I | 1999 | 137 | 102.8 |
| Storm Lake II | 1999 | 89 | 66.8 |
| Intrepid | 2017 | 24 | 36 |
| Intrepid Expansion | 2005 | 6 | 6 |
| Waverly | 1999 | 2 | 1.5 |
| Unnamed project (Buena Vista County) | Not recorded | 1 | 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 1999.[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]
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.
Buena Vista County, Iowa has six operating wind projects with 259 turbines and 213.1 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 259 turbines in the county has no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
The projects are Storm Lake I (1999, 102.8 MW), Storm Lake II (1999, 66.8 MW), Intrepid (2017, 36 MW), Intrepid Expansion (2005, 6 MW), Waverly (1999, 1.5 MW) and Unnamed project (Buena Vista County) (details not recorded).[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, three came online in the 1990s, one in the 2000s and one 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]
Nearby Iowa counties with wind projects include Cherokee County (232.3 MW), Sac County (334.8 MW), Ida County (503.5 MW), O'Brien County (752.3 MW) and Clay County (187.1 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iowa
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cherokee County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Sac County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Ida 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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