43-13-17. Granting of wind or solar easements--Recording--Maximum term--Development of energy potential required--Encumbrances.
Any property owner may grant a wind or solar easement in the same manner and with the same effect as a conveyance of an interest in real property. The easement shall be created in writing, and the easement or a memorandum thereof shall be filed, duly recorded, and indexed in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the easement is granted. Any such easement runs with the land or lands benefited and burdened and terminates upon the conditions stated in the easement, except that the term of any such easement may not exceed fifty years. Any such easement is void if no development of the potential to produce energy from wind power or solar power associated with the easement has occurred within five years after the effective date of the easement. Any payments associated with the granting or continuance of any such easement shall be made on an annual basis to the owner of record of the real property at the time the payment is made. If the easement holder mortgages or otherwise encumbers to any party any part of the easement holder's rights and interests under the easement, any such mortgage or encumbrance on the easement is the responsibility of the easement holder and attaches only to the easement holder's rights and does not otherwise attach to the land or obligate the property owner. Each wind or solar easement agreement shall include a statement disclosing that the easement holder may mortgage or encumber any part of the easement holder's rights and interests under the agreement unless otherwise specified in the agreement.
Source: SL 1996, ch 260, §2; SL 2003, ch 227, §1; SL 2009, ch 222, §1; SL 2010, ch 213, §2; SL 2017, ch 188, §2.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 13 - Easements And Servitudes
Section 43-13-1 - Granting and holding of servitudes not attached to land.
Section 43-13-2 - Easements--Definition--Classification.
Section 43-13-3 - Definition of terms--Dominant tenement--Servient tenement.
Section 43-13-4 - Creation of servitude--Vested estate in servient tenement necessary.
Section 43-13-5 - Extent of servitude--Determination.
Section 43-13-6 - Owner of servient tenement cannot hold servitude--Extinguishment of servitude.
Section 43-13-7 - Effect of partition of dominant tenement--Apportionment of burden--Limitation.
Section 43-13-8 - Use of easements by owner of future estate in dominant tenement.
Section 43-13-9 - Owner or occupant of dominant tenement--Right to enforce easement.
Section 43-13-11 - Destruction of servient tenement extinguishes servitude.
Section 43-13-13 - Servitude acquired by enjoyment extinguished by disuse for prescribed period.
Section 43-13-16 - Wind easement defined.
Section 43-13-16.1 - Solar easement defined.
Section 43-13-18 - Contents of wind or solar easement instruments.
Section 43-13-19 - Severance of wind or solar energy rights limited.
Section 43-13-20.1 - Extension of wind development period--Filing of affidavit.
Section 43-13-20.2 - Development of potential to produce energy from wind power or solar power.
Section 43-13-20.3 - Additional contents of wind or solar easement documents.
Section 43-13-20.4 - Waiting period for execution of wind or solar easement or lease.
Section 43-13-20.5 - Confidentiality agreements.
Section 43-13-21 - Small wind energy system defined.
Section 43-13-22 - Large wind energy system defined.
Section 43-13-23 - Small wind energy system set back requirement--Exception .
Section 43-13-24 - Large wind energy system set back requirement--Exception.