(817) 778-9532

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Delaware County, Iowa

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Delaware County, Iowa has four operating wind projects with 43 turbines and 111.8 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 Delaware County

The projects came online between 2011 and 2022.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (40 turbines) and HZ Windpower (3 turbines).[1]

ProjectOnlineTurbines in the countyCapacity in the county (MW)
Independence Wind Farm20212055.4
Elk20111742.5
CED Manchester Wind202237.9
Mason Wind LLC Dyersville201736

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 Delaware County

Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2011.[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 2022.[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 Delaware County, Iowa?

Delaware County, Iowa has four operating wind projects with 43 turbines and 111.8 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 Delaware County?

The projects are Independence Wind Farm (2021, 55.4 MW), Elk (2011, 42.5 MW), CED Manchester Wind (2022, 7.9 MW) and Mason Wind LLC Dyersville (2017, 6 MW).[1]

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

Of the projects with a recorded year, two came online in the 2010s and two 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 Iowa counties also have wind projects?

Nearby Iowa counties with wind projects include Fayette County (43.5 MW), Linn County (2.5 MW), Cedar County (6 MW), Winneshiek County (1.6 MW) and Chickasaw County (202.4 MW).[1]

Related pages

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iowa

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Fayette County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Linn County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cedar County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Winneshiek County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Chickasaw 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