Quick answer
The projects came online between 1998 and 2022.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Vestas (376 turbines), Enron (139 turbines) and GE Wind (104 turbines).[1]
One of the 641 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blazing Star 2 | 2021 | 100 | 218 |
| Blazing Star 1 | 2020 | 100 | 200 |
| Red Pine | 2017 | 100 | 200 |
| Buffalo Ridge | 2022 | 40 | 112.8 |
| Lake Benton I | 1998 | 139 | 104.3 |
| Minn-Dakota | 2007 | 64 | 96 |
| Community Wind North | 2011 | 12 | 24 |
| Ruthton Wind Farm | 2001 | 24 | 15.8 |
| Lakota Ridge | 1999 | 15 | 12.3 |
| North Shaokatan Wind Farm | 2000 | 18 | 11.9 |
| Shaokatan Hills | 1999 | 18 | 11.9 |
| Norgaard (7 Projects) | 2006 | 7 | 8.8 |
| Shaokatan Power Partners | 2003 | 2 | 1.6 |
| JJN Wind Farm | 2004 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Unnamed project (Lincoln County 1) | 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 1998.[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]
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.
Lincoln County, Minnesota has 15 operating wind projects with 641 turbines and 1,018.9 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 641 turbines in the county has no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
The projects are Blazing Star 2 (2021, 218 MW), Blazing Star 1 (2020, 200 MW), Red Pine (2017, 200 MW), Buffalo Ridge (2022, 112.8 MW), Lake Benton I (1998, 104.3 MW), Minn-Dakota (2007, 96 MW), Community Wind North (2011, 24 MW) and Ruthton Wind Farm (2001, 15.8 MW), plus seven 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, three came online in the 1990s, six in the 2000s, two 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 Minnesota counties with wind projects include Pipestone County (302.1 MW), Lyon County (18.9 MW), Murray County (402.9 MW), Rock County (319.4 MW) and Chippewa County (44.6 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Minnesota
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Pipestone County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Lyon County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Murray 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)
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.
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