Quick answer
The projects came online between 2008 and 2020.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Winnebago County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (143 turbines), Gamesa (10 turbines) and Clipper (4 turbines).[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake II | 2008 | 80 | 198.8 |
| Crystal Lake III | 2009 | 44 | 66 |
| Golden Plains | 2020 | 23 | 55.8 |
| Winnebago I | 2008 | 10 | 20 |
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.
Winnebago County, Iowa has four operating wind projects with 157 turbines and 340.6 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]
The projects are Crystal Lake II (2008, 198.8 MW), Crystal Lake III (2009, 66 MW), Golden Plains (2020, 55.8 MW) and Winnebago I (2008, 20 MW).[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 2000s and one 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 Kossuth County (583.2 MW), Hancock County (250 MW), Cerro Gordo County (54.7 MW), Worth County (517.9 MW) and Palo Alto County (358.9 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Iowa
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Kossuth County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Hancock County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cerro Gordo 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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