# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Rosebud County, Montana

> Rosebud County, Montana: five wind projects, 404.1 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana/rosebud
- Last updated: 2026-11-03
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Rosebud County, Montana has five operating wind projects with 147 turbines and 404.1 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 Rosebud County

The projects came online between 2022 and 2024.^\[1\] Three of these projects also have turbines outside Rosebud County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.^\[1\] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (145 turbines).^\[1\]

Two of the 147 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) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Clearwater Energy Project 1A | 2022 | 79 | 221.3 |
| Clearwater Wind II | 2023 | 34 | 94.4 |
| Clearwater Wind III | 2024 | 32 | 88.4 |
| Clearwater | 2022 | 1 | Not recorded |
| Unnamed project (Rosebud County) | 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.

## What the data means for wind lease owners in Rosebud County

Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2022.^\[1\] 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 2024.^\[1\] 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 Montana

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 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 Rosebud County, Montana?

Rosebud County, Montana has five operating wind projects with 147 turbines and 404.1 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).^\[1\] Two of the 147 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.^\[1\]

### Which wind projects operate in Rosebud County?

The projects are Clearwater Energy Project 1A (2022, 221.3 MW), Clearwater Wind II (2023, 94.4 MW), Clearwater Wind III (2024, 88.4 MW), Clearwater (2022) and Unnamed project (Rosebud County) (details not recorded).^\[1\]

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

Of the projects with a recorded year, four came online 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 Montana counties also have wind projects?

Nearby Montana counties with wind projects include Garfield County (160.7 MW), Custer County (205.4 MW), Fallon County (30 MW), Yellowstone County (1.7 MW) and Carbon County (239.8 MW).^\[1\]

### What does Montana law say about wind leases?

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.^\[3\]

## Related pages

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Montana](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana)

[Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties)

[Mineral rights in Montana](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/montana)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Rosebud County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/montana/rosebud)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Garfield County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana/garfield)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Custer County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana/custer)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Fallon County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana/fallon)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Yellowstone County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana/yellowstone)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Carbon County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/montana/carbon)

## Sources

\[1\] [U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026)](https://energy.usgs.gov/uswtdb/) — 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](https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Publications/Research/Biomass-Solar-Wind/NY-Wind-Energy-Guide-3.pdf) — 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](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0700/chapter_0170/part_0040/section_0040/0700-0170-0040-0040.html) — Montana Legislature (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](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fwind-royalties%2Fmontana%2Frosebud&county=Rosebud+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When did wind projects in Rosebud County come online?**
Of the projects with a recorded year, four came online in the 2020s. 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.

## About Buckhead Energy
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days.

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