Quick answer
Rosebud County, Stillwater County and Toole County have the most recorded wind capacity in Montana, with 404.1 MW, 328 MW and 312 MW.[1]
Wind projects in Montana came online between 2005 and 2025.[1]
| County | Projects | Turbines | Capacity (MW) | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosebud County | 5 | 147 | 404.1 | 2022–2024 |
| Stillwater County | 2 | 119 | 328 | 2018–2025 |
| Toole County | 3 | 208 | 312 | 2008–2012 |
| Carbon County | 1 | 114 | 239.8 | 2021 |
| Custer County | 2 | 76 | 205.4 | 2023 |
| Wheatland County | 4 | 110 | 165.7 | 2005–2014 |
| Garfield County | 3 | 58 | 160.7 | 2022–2024 |
| Judith Basin County | 2 | 54 | 119.9 | 2012–2020 |
| Glacier County | 2 | 58 | 87 | 2009–2012 |
| Teton County | 2 | 19 | 39.9 | 2014–2016 |
| Fallon County | 2 | 20 | 30 | 2008–2010 |
| Sweet Grass County | 1 | 14 | 25.1 | 2018 |
| Cascade County | 1 | 6 | 9 | 2006 |
| Meagher County | 2 | 9 | 9 | 2012–2018 |
| Yellowstone County | 1 | 1 | 1.7 | 2018 |
Source: U.S. Wind Turbine Database (USGS, ACP, LBNL), version 9.1, released September 28, 2026. Data compiled November 3, 2026.
In royalty arrangements, the developer pays the landowner a percentage of the revenue received from the electricity produced by the turbines.[2] In a flat or fixed-fee arrangement, the developer pays a fixed fee per turbine, per unit of land or per megawatt of installed capacity on a monthly or yearly basis.[2] 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]
Montana: a wind energy right, including any royalty, may not be severed from the real property, although a seller of the land may keep the payments under an existing wind option or wind energy agreement.[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.
Montana has 28 operating wind projects with 1,013 turbines and 2,137.3 MW of recorded capacity across 15 counties, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]
By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Rosebud County (404.1 MW), Stillwater County (328 MW), Toole County (312 MW), Carbon County (239.8 MW) and Custer County (205.4 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, five came online in the 2000s, 13 in the 2010s and nine 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]
Montana: a wind energy right, including any royalty, may not be severed from the real property, although a seller of the land may keep the payments under an existing wind option or wind energy agreement.[3]
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
[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] Montana Code Annotated 70-17-404: Severance of wind energy rights limited — Montana Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.
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