# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Codington County, South Dakota > Codington County, South Dakota: four wind projects, 350.7 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. - URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/codington - Last updated: 2026-11-03 - Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) - Format: full-content Markdown twin of the page (same content as the HTML; site navigation and footer removed) Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties) › [South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota) › Codington County Quick answer Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Codington County, South Dakota has four operating wind projects with 142 turbines and 350.7 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026). ## Wind projects in Codington County The projects came online between 2011 and 2022.^\[1\] Three of these projects also have turbines outside Codington County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.^\[1\] Turbine makers represented in the county: GE Wind (126 turbines) and Vestas (15 turbines).^\[1\] One of the 142 turbines in the county has no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.^\[1\] | Project | Online | Turbines in the county | Capacity in the county (MW) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Crowned Ridge I | 2019 | 69 | 158.7 | | Crowned Ridge II | 2020 | 57 | 129.5 | | Dakota Range I and II | 2022 | 15 | 62.5 | | Unnamed project (Codington County) | 2011 | 1 | Not recorded | Source: U.S. Wind Turbine Database (USGS, ACP, LBNL), version 9.1, released September 28, 2026. Data compiled November 3, 2026. ## What the data means for wind lease owners in Codington County Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2011.^\[1\] 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 2022.^\[1\] 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.^\[2\] ## Wind leases in South Dakota 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 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 Codington County, South Dakota? Codington County, South Dakota has four operating wind projects with 142 turbines and 350.7 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).^\[1\] One of the 142 turbines in the county has no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.^\[1\] ### Which wind projects operate in Codington County? The projects are Crowned Ridge I (2019, 158.7 MW), Crowned Ridge II (2020, 129.5 MW), Dakota Range I and II (2022, 62.5 MW) and Unnamed project (Codington County) (2011).^\[1\] ### Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Codington County? 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 did wind projects in Codington County come online? Of the projects with a recorded year, two 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.^\[2\] ### Which nearby South Dakota counties also have wind projects? Nearby South Dakota counties with wind projects include Grant County (365.9 MW), Deuel County (570.6 MW), Roberts County (76.8 MW), Brookings County (363.1 MW) and Clark County (229.8 MW).^\[1\] ### What does South Dakota law say about wind leases? 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.^\[3\] ## Related pages [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota) [Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties) [Mineral rights in South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/southdakota) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Grant County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/grant) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Deuel County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/deuel) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Roberts County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/roberts) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Brookings County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/brookings) [Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Clark County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/clark) ## Sources \[1\] [U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026)](https://energy.usgs.gov/uswtdb/) — 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](https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Publications/Research/Biomass-Solar-Wind/NY-Wind-Energy-Guide-3.pdf) — 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](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/43-13-19.html) — South Dakota Legislature (accessed November 1, 2026) ## Ready to Sell Your Wind Lease Payments or Royalties? Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. [Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fwind-royalties%2Fsouthdakota%2Fcodington&county=Codington+County) ## Frequently Asked Questions **When did wind projects in Codington County come online?** Of the projects with a recorded year, two came online in the 2010s and two in the 2020s. 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. ## About Buckhead Energy Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days. **Sell mineral rights:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell **Operator directory:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators