Mineral rights are one of the most underestimated risks in utility-scale project development. Severed mineral interests — where the subsurface rights are owned separately from the surface — can affect site control, surface use, permitting, and project financing in ways that don't always show up in a standard title search.

This dashboard covers 38 states with relevant mineral activity for power and energy developers. Use it to quickly understand the risk landscape before committing capital — and to know what questions to ask before you get to the closing table.

How to use this tool

Filter by resource type or activity level to narrow results by state. Click any column header to sort. The notes column is written specifically for utility-scale developers — not mineral buyers or landowners. Activity levels reflect how likely mineral severance and active extraction is to affect your project site in that state.

• Very High / High — Assume mineral severance is present. MOR analysis is essential before committing capital.
• Moderate — Severance is common in certain regions or resource types. Verify on a parcel-by-parcel basis.
• Low-Moderate — Lower risk overall but specific counties or formations warrant review.

"The best time to look at mineral rights is before you've committed capital — not at the financing table."