Fayette County, Alabama: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Fayette and Berry
No data center or power plant project is on record in Fayette County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Fayette County is home to Fayette, Berry and part of Winfield (712 of its 4,842 residents). Construction employs 122, up 37.1% since 2019. 10 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by SR Sipsey, LLC (solar), the 9th largest pipeline among Alabama's counties. Next door, Tuscaloosa County has 1 data center. Alabama Power Co is the largest utility serving Fayette County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.77¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.24¢ median for Alabama utilities.
Cities and towns in Fayette County
Fayette County is home to Fayette, Berry and part of Winfield (712 of its 4,842 residents).
- Winfield also extends into Marion County.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Fayette County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alabama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 16,331 | 15,872 | ▼ 2.8% | 53rd of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,003 | 3,946 | ▼ 1.4% | 48th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,447 | $51,504 | ▲ 49.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 89 | 122 | ▲ 37.1% | 11th of 41 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 3.6% | ▲ 0.4pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 10 MW | no fleet today | 9th of 11 by size |
Employers here counted 3,946 jobs in 2025, down 1.4% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019. 15,872 people live here, down 2.8% since 2020.
Who powers Fayette County
Utilities with service territory in Fayette County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,332,911 | 16.77¢ | 26% |
| Tombigbee Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in Fayette County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR Sipsey | Solar Photovoltaic | 10 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | SR Sipsey, LLC |
The Fayette County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,946 | $51,504 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 122 | $60,086 | 0.58 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Fayette County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Fayette County. Alabama has 18 local measures on record statewide.
Fayette County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Fayette County, Tuscaloosa County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 15,872 | ▼ 1.4% | — | 10 MW | — | — |
| Lamar County | 13,587 | ▼ 3.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Marion County | 29,097 | ▼ 0.2% | — | 4 MW | — | — |
| Pickens County | 18,221 | ▼ 1.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Tuscaloosa County | 241,368 | ▲ 1.4% | 101 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Walker County | 65,140 | ▲ 2.4% | 181 MW | — | — | — |
More of Alabama
Fayette County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Fayette County, Alabama?
2 utilities have service territory in Fayette County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Alabama Power Co, Tombigbee Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Alabama Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Fayette County?
10 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is SR Sipsey, LLC.
Are there data centers in Fayette County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Fayette County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Tuscaloosa County.
Is Fayette County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,946 jobs in 2025 against 4,003 in 2019 (-1.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 89 to 122.
Does Fayette County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Fayette County. Alabama has 18 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.