Quick answer
The projects came online between 2012 and 2018.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (6 turbines).[1]
Three of the 9 turbines in the county have 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Butte | 2012 | 6 | 9 |
| Unnamed project (Meagher County) | 2018 | 3 | 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 2012.[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 2018.[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]
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.
Meagher County, Montana has two operating wind projects with 9 turbines and 9 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1] Three of the 9 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
The projects are Gordon Butte (2012, 9 MW) and Unnamed project (Meagher County) (2018).[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, two came online 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]
Nearby Montana counties with wind projects include Wheatland County (165.7 MW), Sweet Grass County (25.1 MW), Stillwater County (328 MW), Judith Basin County (119.9 MW) and Yellowstone County (1.7 MW).[1]
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]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Montana
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Wheatland County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Sweet Grass County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Stillwater 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] 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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