(817) 778-9532

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Grant County, South Dakota

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. Grant County, South Dakota has five operating wind projects with 103 turbines and 365.9 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 Grant County

The projects came online between 2019 and 2022.[1] Four of these projects also have turbines outside Grant County; the table counts only the turbines in the county.[1] Turbine makers represented in the county: Vestas (57 turbines), GE Wind (20 turbines) and Nordex (16 turbines).[1]

10 of the 103 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]

ProjectOnlineTurbines in the countyCapacity in the county (MW)
Dakota Range I and II202257243.1
Dakota Range III20211676.8
Crowned Ridge I20191841.4
Crowned Ridge II202024.6
Unnamed project (Grant County)Not recorded10Not 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 Grant County

Turbines at the oldest project in the county have been in place since 2019.[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 Grant County, South Dakota?

Grant County, South Dakota has five operating wind projects with 103 turbines and 365.9 MW of recorded capacity in the county, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).[1] 10 of the 103 turbines in the county have no recorded capacity in the database, so the megawatt figures count the rest.[1]

Which wind projects operate in Grant County?

The projects are Dakota Range I and II (2022, 243.1 MW), Dakota Range III (2021, 76.8 MW), Crowned Ridge I (2019, 41.4 MW), Crowned Ridge II (2020, 4.6 MW) and Unnamed project (Grant County) (details not recorded).[1]

Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in Grant 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 Grant County come online?

Of the projects with a recorded year, one came online in the 2010s and three 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 Roberts County (76.8 MW), Codington County (350.7 MW), Deuel County (570.6 MW), Clark County (229.8 MW) and Day County (105.6 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

Selling Wind Royalties and Wind Lease Payments

Mineral rights in South Dakota

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Roberts County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Codington County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Deuel County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Clark County

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Day County

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] South Dakota Codified Laws 43-13-19: Severance of wind or solar energy rights limited — 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