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Wind land lease · CO

Lease your land for wind in Colorado

Colorado ranks 80/100 for wind land lease exceptional statewide suitability. Colorado is a top-tier state for this use; provider competition is strong.

Free. Takes ~15 seconds. No account required.

In-depth Colorado guide

Lease your Colorado land for wind — Eastern Plains + Front Range opportunities

Colorado's eastern plains host strong wind resource. Per-turbine economics, top counties, and stacking with cattle and dryland farming.

Colorado's eastern plains — Logan, Sedgwick, Yuma, Phillips, Washington, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Lincoln, Elbert counties — deliver strong, consistent wind resource (7.5-8.5 m/s at 80m). Combined with Xcel Energy's aggressive renewable procurement, eastern Colorado has become one of the top US wind markets.

Colorado wind economics in 2026

  • Per-turbine royalty: $8,000-$13,000/yr
  • Construction payments: $50k-$100k per turbine
  • A 1,000-acre Logan County wheat farm hosting 8 turbines earns $80k/yr in base royalties + crop income continues

Top Colorado wind counties

  • Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips — northeast corner, strongest winds
  • Yuma, Washington — central plains
  • Kit Carson, Cheyenne — southeast plains
  • Lincoln, Elbert — Front Range adjacent, growing development
  • Las Animas, Baca — southeast corner, mixed activity

Active Colorado developers

Xcel Energy (largest in-state utility, builds and contracts), NextEra Energy Resources, EDF Renewables, Pattern Energy, Apex Clean Energy, Invenergy.

Stacking with other uses

Colorado eastern plains wind stacks excellently with:

  • Dryland wheat and corn (cropping continues around turbines)
  • Cattle grazing (turbines have minimal impact)
  • Oil & gas leasing (DJ Basin in northeast Colorado; mineral rights in same area)
  • CRP conservation enrollment (marginal acres)

A 1,500-acre Logan County operation combining wheat ($45/ac × 1,440 ac = $65k) + wind royalty ($96k from 8 turbines) + small CRP enrollment on 60 ac ($12k) = $173k/yr.

Next step

Run a free Landholder.com assessment — we use NREL wind data and identify your Colorado utility territory.

Quick reference — wind land lease basics

  1. 1
    Site assessment

    Developers map wind resource, terrain, transmission, and parcel size. They typically need 80+ contiguous acres to fit a single turbine with setbacks.

  2. 2
    Option period

    A 3-5 year wind easement / option agreement pays modest annual fees while developers build out a project area with neighboring landowners.

  3. 3
    Construction

    On project approval, turbines are installed (6-12 months). You receive a construction-period payment plus ongoing royalties.

  4. 4
    Royalty stream

    30+ year royalty based on per-turbine annual payment, percentage of gross revenue, or production-based formula.

FAQ — Wind land lease in Colorado

Can I still farm or graze under turbines?

Yes. Turbines occupy 0.5-1 acre each. The rest of the leased land remains in active agricultural use.

How long are wind leases?

Typically 30-50 years with extensions. Initial easement option period is 3-5 years before construction.

Will I own the turbines?

No. The developer owns and operates them. At end of term, they remove turbines and restore the site.

Which states are best?

Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming. The 'wind belt' runs from West Texas up through the Dakotas.

See how your Colorado parcel scores.

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