# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Clay County, Iowa

> Clay County, Iowa: two wind projects, 187.1 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Projects, years online and FAQs.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa/clay
- Last updated: 2026-11-03
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
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Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties) › [Iowa](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa) › Clay County

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Clay County, Iowa has two operating wind projects with 75 turbines and 187.1 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 Clay County

The projects came online between 2007 and 2019.^\[1\] Every project here also has turbines outside Clay County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.^\[1\] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (74 turbines) and Suzlon (1 turbine).^\[1\]

| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Upland Prairie | 2019 | 74 | 185 |
| Cross Winds | 2007 | 1 | 2.1 |

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 Clay County

Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2007.^\[1\] 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 2019.^\[1\] 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 Iowa

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 Clay County, Iowa?

Clay County, Iowa has two operating wind projects with 75 turbines and 187.1 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 Clay County?

The projects are Upland Prairie (2019, 185 MW) and Cross Winds (2007, 2.1 MW).^\[1\]

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

Of the projects with a recorded year, one came online 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.^\[2\]

### Which nearby Iowa counties also have wind projects?

Nearby Iowa counties with wind projects include Dickinson County (270 MW), O'Brien County (752.3 MW), Osceola County (153.8 MW), Cherokee County (232.3 MW) and Buena Vista County (213.1 MW).^\[1\]

## Related pages

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iowa](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa)

[Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Dickinson County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa/dickinson)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in O'Brien County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa/obrien)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Osceola County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa/osceola)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cherokee County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa/cherokee)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Buena Vista County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/iowa/buena-vista)

## 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%2Fiowa%2Fclay&county=Clay+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When did wind projects in Clay County come online?**
Of the projects with a recorded year, one came online in the 2000s and one 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.

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