# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in North Dakota

> North Dakota: 49 wind projects in 26 counties, 4,940.5 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota
- 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. 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).

## Wind projects by county in North Dakota

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](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/oliver) | 10 | 220 | 590.8 | 2006–2024 |
| [Morton County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/morton) | 7 | 198 | 484.5 | 2010–2019 |
| [Williams County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/williams) | 2 | 146 | 448.8 | 2017–2021 |
| [McIntosh County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/mcintosh) | 2 | 114 | 264 | 2020–2025 |
| [Barnes County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/barnes) | 2 | 170 | 258.9 | 2008–2010 |
| [Dickey County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/dickey) | 4 | 144 | 253.5 | 2008–2020 |
| [Bowman County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/bowman) | 2 | 87 | 228.2 | 2010–2025 |
| [Cavalier County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/cavalier) | 3 | 133 | 210.6 | 2007–2008 |
| [Burleigh County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/burleigh) | 3 | 130 | 204.2 | 2005–2010 |
| [Stutsman County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/stutsman) | 1 | 100 | 200 | 2016 |
| [Burke County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/burke) | 1 | 74 | 193.2 | 2020 |
| [Emmons County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/emmons) | 1 | 83 | 175.8 | 2019 |
| [Logan County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/logan) | 2 | 66 | 172.3 | 2019–2025 |
| [Stark County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/stark) | 2 | 97 | 169.7 | 2016 |
| [Adams County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/adams) | 2 | 59 | 155.5 | 2015–2018 |
| [Rolette County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/rolette) | 1 | 75 | 150 | 2015 |
| [Pierce County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/pierce) | 1 | 71 | 149.1 | 2009 |
| [Hettinger County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/hettinger) | 1 | 72 | 149 | 2016 |
| [Steele County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/steele) | 2 | 82 | 123 | 2009 |
| [Ward County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/ward) | 2 | 80 | 120 | 2009 |
| [McHenry County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/mchenry) | 2 | 46 | 111.3 | 2006–2018 |
| [LaMoure County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/lamoure) | 2 | 41 | 61.5 | 2003 |
| [Griggs County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/griggs) | 2 | 33 | 46.5 | 2009–2011 |
| [Mercer County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/mercer) | 1 | 7 | 17.5 | 2019 |
| [Ramsey County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/ramsey) | 1 | 1 | 1.6 | 2013 |
| [Pembina County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/northdakota/pembina) | 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.

## How wind leases pay

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.^\[2\]

## Wind leases in North Dakota

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 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 North Dakota?

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).^\[1\]

### Which North Dakota counties have the most wind capacity?

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).^\[1\]

### Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in North Dakota?

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 were North Dakota's wind projects built?

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.^\[2\]

### What does North Dakota law say about wind leases?

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.^\[3\]

## Related pages

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

[Mineral rights in North Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/northdakota)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in North Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/northdakota)

## 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)

\[3\] [North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 17-04: Wind Energy Property Rights](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t17c04.pdf) — North Dakota Legislative Branch (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%2Fnorthdakota)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When were North Dakota's wind projects built?**
Of the projects with a recorded year, 17 came online in the 2000s, 26 in the 2010s and six 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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