Quick answer
The projects came online between 2010 and 2018.[1] One of these projects also has turbines outside Aurora County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (62 turbines).[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Lake | 2010 | 53 | 79.5 |
| Aurora County Wind | 2018 | 9 | 20.7 |
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 2010.[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] The newest project here came online in 2018.[1] 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]
South Dakota: wind and solar energy rights may not be severed from the surface estate but may be leased for up to fifty years, with lease payments made annually.[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.
Aurora County, South Dakota has two operating wind projects with 62 turbines and 100.2 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 Crow Lake (2010, 79.5 MW) and Aurora County Wind (2018, 20.7 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 2010s.[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 South Dakota counties with wind projects include Brule County (65.3 MW), Jerauld County (91.5 MW), Hand County (223.8 MW), Hyde County (428.9 MW) and Hughes County (56.4 MW).[1]
South Dakota: wind and solar energy rights may not be severed from the surface estate but may be leased for up to fifty years, with lease payments made annually.[3]
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in South Dakota
Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments
Mineral rights in South Dakota
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Brule County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Jerauld County
Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Hand 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] South Dakota Codified Laws 43-13-19: Severance of wind or solar energy rights limited — South Dakota Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.
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