In Clinton County, a 2‑acre parcel of a corn‑soybean farm was earmarked for two wind turbine bases after GreenWind Energy signed a 20‑year lease that pays $25,000 annually.
Iowa leads the nation in wind generation, with turbines supplying more than 60% of the state's electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The lease offers a predictable income floor that cushions the farmer from the price swings of corn and soybean markets; the $25,000 per year is the highest net return per square foot on the property, according to the farmer himself.
Iowa Farm Bureau director Tom Harper said the lease provides a “steady cash floor” that helps farmers navigate volatile commodity markets.
Across the state, developers pay more than $1.5 billion each year in lease payments and property taxes, a sum that supports rural schools and infrastructure, though some county boards have imposed strict setback rules to limit new turbines.
The Iowa Farm Bureau is lobbying state officials for expedited permitting to double the state’s wind capacity by 2030, while the farmer anticipates renewing the lease when it expires in 2044.