Quick answer
The projects came online in 2009.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Steele County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (82 turbines).[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashtabula II | 2009 | 49 | 73.5 |
| Luverne | 2009 | 33 | 49.5 |
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 2009.[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]
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.
Steele County, North Dakota has two operating wind projects with 82 turbines and 123 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]
The projects are Ashtabula II (2009, 73.5 MW) and Luverne (2009, 49.5 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, two came online in the 2000s.[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 North Dakota counties with wind projects include Griggs County (46.5 MW), Barnes County (258.9 MW), Stutsman County (200 MW), Ramsey County (1.6 MW) and LaMoure County (61.5 MW).[1]
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]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in North Dakota
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Oil and gas mineral rights in Steele County, North Dakota
Mineral rights in North Dakota
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Griggs County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Barnes County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Stutsman County
[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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