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Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Rhode Island

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Rhode Island has 18 operating wind projects with 25 turbines and 48 MW of recorded capacity across four counties, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).

Wind projects by county in Rhode Island

Providence County, Kent County and Newport County have the most recorded wind capacity in Rhode Island, with 30 MW, 15 MW and 1.5 MW.[1]

Wind projects in Rhode Island came online between 2012 and 2021.[1]

CountyProjectsTurbinesCapacity (MW)Online
Providence County1013302012–2021
Kent County610152016–2017
Newport County111.52016
Washington County111.52012

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]

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 Rhode Island?

Rhode Island has 18 operating wind projects with 25 turbines and 48 MW of recorded capacity across four counties, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1]

Which Rhode Island counties have the most wind capacity?

By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Providence County (30 MW), Kent County (15 MW), Newport County (1.5 MW) and Washington County (1.5 MW).[1]

Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Rhode Island?

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 Rhode Island's wind projects built?

Of the projects with a recorded year, 16 came online in the 2010s and two 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]

Related pages

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Rhode Island

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)

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