Hale County, Alabama: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Greensboro and Moundville
Hale County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Hale County is home to Greensboro and most of Moundville (2,127 of its 3,628 residents). Next door, Tuscaloosa County has 1 data center. 13 MW has retired here since 2019, including Westervelt Moundville Cogen (other technologies, 13 MW, 2023). Unemployment was 5.0% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019. Alabama Power Co is the largest utility serving Hale 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 Hale County
Hale County is home to Greensboro and most of Moundville (2,127 of its 3,628 residents).
- Moundville also extends into Tuscaloosa 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 Hale County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alabama |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,768 | 15,194 | ▲ 2.9% | 54th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,675 | 2,665 | ▼ 0.4% | 43rd of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,832 | $49,832 | ▲ 31.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 5.0% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 13 MW | — |
Employers here counted 2,665 jobs in 2025, down 0.4% from 2019. 15,194 people live here, up 2.9% since 2020.
Who powers Hale County
Utilities with service territory in Hale 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% |
| Black Warrior Elec Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,053 | 13.24¢ | 27% |
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 Hale County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westervelt Moundville Cogen | Other technologies | 13 MW | 2023 |
The Hale County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,665 | $49,832 | 1.00 |
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 Hale County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Hale County. Alabama has 18 local measures on record statewide.
Hale County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Hale County, Greene 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hale County | 15,194 | ▼ 0.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Bibb County | 22,262 | ▲ 6.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Greene County | 7,067 | ▼ 1.5% | 1,288 MW | — | — | — |
| Marengo County | 18,311 | ▲ 0.9% | 47 MW | — | — | — |
| Perry County | 7,425 | ▼ 14.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Tuscaloosa County | 241,368 | ▲ 1.4% | 101 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Alabama
Hale County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Hale County, Alabama?
2 utilities have service territory in Hale County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Alabama Power Co, Black Warrior Elec Member Corp. The largest, Alabama Power Co, charged residential customers 16.77¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Hale County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Hale County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Tuscaloosa County.
Is Hale County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,665 jobs in 2025 against 2,675 in 2019 (-0.4%, BLS QCEW).
Does Hale County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Hale County. Alabama has 18 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.