Quick answer
Oliver County, Morton County and Williams County have the most recorded wind capacity in North Dakota, with 590.8 MW, 484.5 MW and 448.8 MW.[1]
Wind projects in North Dakota came online between 2003 and 2025.[1]
| County | Projects | Turbines | Capacity (MW) | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver County | 10 | 220 | 590.8 | 2006–2024 |
| Morton County | 7 | 198 | 484.5 | 2010–2019 |
| Williams County | 2 | 146 | 448.8 | 2017–2021 |
| McIntosh County | 2 | 114 | 264 | 2020–2025 |
| Barnes County | 2 | 170 | 258.9 | 2008–2010 |
| Dickey County | 4 | 144 | 253.5 | 2008–2020 |
| Bowman County | 2 | 87 | 228.2 | 2010–2025 |
| Cavalier County | 3 | 133 | 210.6 | 2007–2008 |
| Burleigh County | 3 | 130 | 204.2 | 2005–2010 |
| Stutsman County | 1 | 100 | 200 | 2016 |
| Burke County | 1 | 74 | 193.2 | 2020 |
| Emmons County | 1 | 83 | 175.8 | 2019 |
| Logan County | 2 | 66 | 172.3 | 2019–2025 |
| Stark County | 2 | 97 | 169.7 | 2016 |
| Adams County | 2 | 59 | 155.5 | 2015–2018 |
| Rolette County | 1 | 75 | 150 | 2015 |
| Pierce County | 1 | 71 | 149.1 | 2009 |
| Hettinger County | 1 | 72 | 149 | 2016 |
| Steele County | 2 | 82 | 123 | 2009 |
| Ward County | 2 | 80 | 120 | 2009 |
| McHenry County | 2 | 46 | 111.3 | 2006–2018 |
| LaMoure County | 2 | 41 | 61.5 | 2003 |
| Griggs County | 2 | 33 | 46.5 | 2009–2011 |
| Mercer County | 1 | 7 | 17.5 | 2019 |
| Ramsey County | 1 | 1 | 1.6 | 2013 |
| Pembina County | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2012 |
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]
North Dakota: apart from wind easements, an interest in the wind resource may not be severed from the surface estate, but a seller of real estate may keep payments from an existing wind energy project.[3]
North Dakota: a wind option, wind easement or wind lease is void after five years unless any required certificate of site compatibility or conditional use permit has issued and a transmission interconnection request is in process and not under suspension.[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.
North Dakota has 49 operating wind projects with 2,330 turbines and 4,940.5 MW of recorded capacity across 26 counties, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]
By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Oliver County (590.8 MW), Morton County (484.5 MW), Williams County (448.8 MW), McIntosh County (264 MW) and Barnes County (258.9 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, 17 came online in the 2000s, 26 in the 2010s and six 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]
North Dakota: apart from wind easements, an interest in the wind resource may not be severed from the surface estate, but a seller of real estate may keep payments from an existing wind energy project.[3] North Dakota: a wind option, wind easement or wind lease is void after five years unless any required certificate of site compatibility or conditional use permit has issued and a transmission interconnection request is in process and not under suspension.[3]
[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] North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 17-04: Wind Energy Property Rights — North Dakota Legislative Branch (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.
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