One of the most misunderstood parts of a renewable energy lease is what happens if the energy company walks away from the project. The lease termination clause allows developers to decommission at any point—meaning your long-term income could vanish overnight. When this happens, not only does the regular lease income stop, but your ability to sell those rights also disappears. That’s why many leaseholders are now shifting toward de-risking options.
Why Upfront Payments Beat Uncertain Payouts
While the idea of collecting annual lease income sounds appealing, it’s only valuable as long as the project stays active. Many leaseholders don’t realize that an upfront payment option allows them to convert a maybe into a guarantee. With cash in hand, you’re no longer relying on the long-term success of the wind or solar farm. You get immediate capital—and with it, freedom to make impactful decisions.
Examples of what landowners have done include:
- Paying off high-interest farm or equipment loans
- Buying additional land for expansion
- Creating an inheritance plan for future generations
The MSE Model: Built for Safety
Madison Street Energy makes this possible by pooling leases across projects in different regions and energy sectors. This diversification ensures that if one site is decommissioned, the impact is spread out and doesn’t fall on just one leaseholder.
Unlike banks or insurers, MSE specializes in renewable lease investments, which means they know how to accurately calculate the true market value of your lease—something most traditional institutions won’t even attempt to do.
How the Process Works
- Submit Your Lease Info – MSE evaluates the terms and payout structure of your current agreement.
- Receive a Lease Valuation – You get a no-obligation assessment outlining your lease’s present-day cash value.
- Decide with Confidence – You choose whether to receive a lump sum in exchange for the lease rights.
It’s straightforward, transparent, and specifically built to put landowners in control.
Is This Right for You?
If you rely on your lease income for annual budgeting or family planning, it’s worth asking: What’s the risk if this income disappears next year? If that answer makes you uncomfortable, then considering an upfront payout is not just a financial move—it’s a peace-of-mind decision.