# Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in South Dakota

> South Dakota: 32 wind projects in 19 counties, 3,613.2 MW. Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota
- 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)

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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys wind lease payments and wind royalties. South Dakota has 32 operating wind projects with 1,497 turbines and 3,613.2 MW of recorded capacity across 19 counties, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).

## Wind projects by county in South Dakota

Deuel County, Hyde County and Grant County have the most recorded wind capacity in South Dakota, with 570.6 MW, 428.9 MW and 365.9 MW.^\[1\]

Wind projects in South Dakota came online between 2001 and 2023.^\[1\]

| County | Projects | Turbines | Capacity (MW) | Online |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Deuel County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/deuel) | 4 | 218 | 570.6 | 2010–2021 |
| [Hyde County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/hyde) | 3 | 168 | 428.9 | 2003–2023 |
| [Grant County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/grant) | 5 | 103 | 365.9 | 2019–2022 |
| [Brookings County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/brookings) | 4 | 180 | 363.1 | 2007–2019 |
| [Codington County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/codington) | 4 | 142 | 350.7 | 2011–2022 |
| [Clark County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/clark) | 2 | 88 | 229.8 | 2014–2019 |
| [Hand County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/hand) | 2 | 81 | 223.8 | 2009–2023 |
| [Bon Homme County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/bon-homme) | 2 | 41 | 140.2 | 2015–2020 |
| [Charles Mix County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/charles-mix) | 2 | 38 | 107.4 | 2015–2020 |
| [Butte County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/butte) | 1 | 38 | 106.4 | 2020 |
| [Day County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/day) | 1 | 66 | 105.6 | 2010 |
| [Aurora County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/aurora) | 2 | 62 | 100.2 | 2010–2018 |
| [Campbell County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/campbell) | 1 | 55 | 93.5 | 2015 |
| [Jerauld County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/jerauld) | 3 | 61 | 91.5 | 2009–2011 |
| [McPherson County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/mcpherson) | 1 | 59 | 88.5 | 2008 |
| [Roberts County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/roberts) | 1 | 16 | 76.8 | 2021 |
| [Brule County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/brule) | 4 | 39 | 65.3 | 2001–2018 |
| [Hughes County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/hughes) | 2 | 21 | 56.4 | 2023 |
| [Hutchinson County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/southdakota/hutchinson) | 2 | 21 | 48.6 | 2015–2020 |

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.^\[2\]

## 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 South Dakota?

South Dakota has 32 operating wind projects with 1,497 turbines and 3,613.2 MW of recorded capacity across 19 counties, according to the U.S. Wind Turbine Database (version 9.1, released September 28, 2026).^\[1\]

### Which South Dakota counties have the most wind capacity?

By recorded capacity, the leading counties are Deuel County (570.6 MW), Hyde County (428.9 MW), Grant County (365.9 MW), Brookings County (363.1 MW) and Codington County (350.7 MW).^\[1\]

### Can I sell wind lease payments or royalties in South Dakota?

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 South Dakota's wind projects built?

Of the projects with a recorded year, seven came online in the 2000s, 13 in the 2010s and 11 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.^\[2\]

### 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

[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)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in South Dakota](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/southdakota)

## 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)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When were South Dakota's wind projects built?**
Of the projects with a recorded year, seven came online in the 2000s, 13 in the 2010s and 11 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.

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