Quick answer
The projects came online between 2001 and 2018.[1] Two of these projects also have turbines outside Brule County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (37 turbines) and Nordex (2 turbines).[1]
| Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crow Lake | 2011 | 22 | 33 |
| Brule County Wind | 2018 | 9 | 20.7 |
| South Dakota Wind Partners | 2011 | 6 | 9 |
| Chamberlain Wind Project | 2001 | 2 | 2.6 |
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 2001.[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.
Brule County, South Dakota has four operating wind projects with 39 turbines and 65.3 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 (2011, 33 MW), Brule County Wind (2018, 20.7 MW), South Dakota Wind Partners (2011, 9 MW) and Chamberlain Wind Project (2001, 2.6 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, one came online in the 2000s and three 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 Aurora County (100.2 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 Aurora 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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