Quick answer
The projects came online between 2012 and 2020.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Lea County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (30 turbines), GE Wind (13 turbines) and Suzlon (13 turbines).[1]
Three of the 59 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oso Grande | 2020 | 30 | 135 |
| Sterling Phase I | 2017 | 13 | 29.9 |
| Wildcat Wind Project | 2012 | 13 | 27.3 |
| Unnamed project (Lea County 2) | 2013 | 1 | Not recorded |
| Unnamed project (Lea County 3) | 2013 | 1 | Not recorded |
| Unnamed project (Lea 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.
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 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]
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.
Lea County, New Mexico has six operating wind projects with 59 turbines and 192.2 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 59 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]
The projects are Oso Grande (2020, 135 MW), Sterling Phase I (2017, 29.9 MW), Wildcat Wind Project (2012, 27.3 MW), Unnamed project (Lea County 2) (2013), Unnamed project (Lea County 3) (2013) and Unnamed project (Lea County) (details not recorded).[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, four came online in the 2010s 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 New Mexico counties with wind projects include Chaves County (165.4 MW), Roosevelt County (904.5 MW), De Baca County (97.5 MW), Quay County (244.4 MW) and Curry County (481.8 MW).[1]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in New Mexico
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Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Roosevelt County
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[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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