Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Wasilla, Palmer and Houston
Matanuska-Susitna 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. Construction employs 3,756, up 50.5% since 2019, and construction is 2.4 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Matanuska-Susitna is home to Wasilla, Palmer and Houston. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 6.3% in 2019. Employers here counted 29,978 jobs in 2025, up 22.4% from 2019 (the 3rd fastest growth of 28 Alaska counties). Next door, Anchorage has 2 data centers.
Cities and towns in Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna is home to Wasilla, Palmer and Houston.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Big Lake, Buffalo Soapstone, Butte, Chase, Chickaloon, Eureka Roadhouse, Farm Loop, Fishhook, Gateway, Glacier View, Knik River, Knik-Fairview, Lake Louise, Lazy Mountain, Meadow Lakes, North Lakes, Petersville, Point MacKenzie, Skwentna, South Lakes, Susitna, Susitna North, Sutton-Alpine, Talkeetna, Tanaina, Trapper Creek, Willow.
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 Matanuska-Susitna
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 107,514 | 118,666 | ▲ 10.4% | 2nd of 28 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 24,486 | 29,978 | ▲ 22.4% | 3rd of 28 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $45,158 | $61,212 | ▲ 35.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,495 | 3,756 | ▲ 50.5% | 2nd of 8 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 273 | 300 | ▲ 9.9% | — |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 210 | 248 | ▲ 18.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 6.3% | 3.5% | ▼ 2.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 6 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Electrical contractors employ 300, at an average $89,462 a year. 6 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. 118,666 people live here, up 10.4% since 2020, 2nd of 28 Alaska counties by population. Its power plants have 50 MW of capacity, 88% of it hydro. Matanuska Electric Assn Inc is the largest utility serving Matanuska-Susitna. Its residential customers paid an average 23.37¢/kWh in 2024, below the 26.58¢ median for Alaska utilities.
Who powers Matanuska-Susitna
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +6 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Matanuska-Susitna
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matanuska Electric Assn Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 64,205 | 23.37¢ | 41% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 44 MW | 88% |
| Solar | 6 MW | 12% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eklutna Hydro Project | Chugach Electric Assn Inc | Hydro | 44 MW | 1955 |
| Houston Solar | Energy 49, LLC | Solar | 6 MW | 2023 |
The Matanuska-Susitna labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 29,978 | $61,212 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 3,756 | $100,878 | 2.36 |
| Electrical contractors | 300 | $89,462 | 1.39 |
| Power and communication line construction | 248 | $131,531 | 5.12 |
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 Matanuska-Susitna
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Matanuska-Susitna. Alaska has 3 local measures on record statewide.
Matanuska-Susitna and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Matanuska-Susitna, Anchorage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matanuska-Susitna | 118,666 | ▲ 22.4% | 50 MW | — | — | — |
| Anchorage | 287,155 | ▲ 0.4% | 869 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Bethel | 18,391 | ▼ 9.7% | 32 MW | — | — | — |
| Denali | 1,616 | ▼ 1.8% | 117 MW | — | — | — |
| Kenai Peninsula | 61,951 | ▲ 10.3% | 750 MW | — | — | — |
| Southeast Fairbanks | 7,270 | ▲ 27.2% | 43 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Valdez-Cordova | — | — | 58 MW | — | — | — |
| Yukon-Koyukuk | 5,028 | ▲ 2.5% | 7 MW | — | — | — |
More of Alaska
Matanuska-Susitna, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska?
1 utility has service territory in Matanuska-Susitna in the EIA-861 2024 report: Matanuska Electric Assn Inc. The largest, Matanuska Electric Assn Inc, charged residential customers 23.37¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Wasilla, AK in?
Wasilla is in Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska. About 10,556 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Matanuska-Susitna?
2 operating plants with 50 MW of capacity. The largest is Eklutna Hydro Project (44 MW, hydro).
Are there data centers in Matanuska-Susitna?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Matanuska-Susitna. The nearest activity on record is next door in Anchorage.
Is Matanuska-Susitna adding jobs?
Employers counted 29,978 jobs in 2025 against 24,486 in 2019 (+22.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 2,495 to 3,756.
Does Matanuska-Susitna have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Matanuska-Susitna. Alaska has 3 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.