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Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Rolette County, North Dakota

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Rolette County, North Dakota has one operating wind project with 75 turbines and 150 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 Rolette County

The project came online in 2015.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Vestas (75 turbines).[1]

ProjectOnlineTurbines in the countyCapacity in the county (MW)
Border Winds Project201575150

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 Rolette County

Turbines at the project in the county have been in place since 2015.[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] 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 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 Rolette County, North Dakota?

Rolette County, North Dakota has one operating wind project with 75 turbines and 150 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]

Which wind projects operate in Rolette County?

The project is Border Winds Project (2015, 150 MW).[1]

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

The project came online in 2015.[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 North Dakota counties also have wind projects?

Nearby North Dakota counties with wind projects include Pierce County (149.1 MW), Cavalier County (210.6 MW), Ramsey County (1.6 MW), McHenry County (111.3 MW) and Ward County (120 MW).[1]

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

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in North Dakota

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Oil and gas mineral rights in Rolette County, North Dakota

Mineral rights in North Dakota

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Pierce County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cavalier County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Ramsey County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in McHenry County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Ward County

Sources

[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)

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