Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Oklahoma

Wind projects by county in Oklahoma

Kay County, Caddo County and Dewey County have the most recorded wind capacity in Oklahoma, with 1,013.5 MW, 931.7 MW and 853.3 MW.^[1]

Wind projects in Oklahoma came online between 2003 and 2026.^[1]

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 Oklahoma

Oklahoma makes the owner of a wind energy facility responsible, at its expense, for decommissioning it, including removing turbines, cabling and foundations to 30 inches below grade.^[3]

In Oklahoma, a landowner paid on the amount of electricity produced must receive, by a statutory deadline after each payment, a statement that explains the basis for the payment and a means of confirming it.^[3]

Oklahoma landowners who are paid on the amount of electricity produced and who have allowed a wind turbine foundation on their property may also inspect the operator's records, no more than once per calendar year, to confirm the accuracy of payments made within the past 24 months.^[3]

In Oklahoma, the lessee of a wind or solar energy agreement may not unreasonably interfere with the mineral owner's right to make reasonable use of the surface to produce minerals.^[4]

The five states with the most electricity generation from wind in 2025 were Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois.^[5]

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]

Frequently asked questions

Related pages

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Mineral rights in Oklahoma

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Oklahoma

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Oklahoma

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] Oklahoma Statutes, Title 17, Sections 160.11 to 160.19 (Oklahoma Wind Energy Development Act) — Oklahoma Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026)

[4] Oklahoma Statutes, Title 52, Section 803 (Exploration Rights Act of 2011) — Oklahoma Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026)

[5] Wind explained: Where wind power is harnessed — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)