Yuma County, Arizona: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Yuma, San Luis and Somerton
Yuma County is where a large share of Arizona's next power plants are planned. Yuma County is home to Yuma, San Luis, Somerton and Wellton. 1,118 MW of new generation is planned here across 4 units, led by Yuma bn, LLC (solar), the 6th largest pipeline among Arizona's counties. 768 MW of it is already under construction or built. Construction employs 3,980, up 31.7% since 2019. 1,432 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 19.0% in August 2026, against 16.8% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Yuma County
Yuma County is home to Yuma, San Luis, Somerton and Wellton.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Avenue B and C, Aztec, Buckshot, Dateland, Donovan Estates, Drysdale, El Prado Estates, Fortuna Foothills, Gadsden, Martinez Lake, Orange Grove Mobile Manor, Padre Ranchitos, Rancho Mesa Verde, Tacna, Wall Lane, Wellton Hills, Yuma Proving Ground.
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 Yuma County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Arizona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 205,618 | 224,449 | ▲ 9.2% | 6th of 15 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 68,455 | 71,265 | ▲ 4.1% | 10th of 15 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,393 | $56,794 | ▲ 40.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,021 | 3,980 | ▲ 31.7% | 5th of 11 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 16.8% | 19.0% | ▲ 2.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 1,432 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 1,118 MW | 48% of today's fleet | 6th of 8 by size |
Its power plants have 2,353 MW of capacity, 50% of it solar, the 5th largest fleet in Arizona. Employers here counted 71,265 jobs in 2025, up 4.1% from 2019 (the 10th fastest growth of 15 Arizona counties). 224,449 people live here, up 9.2% since 2020, 6th of 15 Arizona counties by population. Arizona Public Service Co is the largest utility serving Yuma County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.45¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.49¢ median for Arizona utilities.
Who powers Yuma County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +1,432 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Yuma County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Public Service Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,256,120 | 16.45¢ | 48% |
| Wellton-Mohawk Irr & Drain Dist | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 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.
Operating power plants 13
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 1,185 MW | 50% |
| Battery storage | 683 MW | 29% |
| Natural gas | 387 MW | 16% |
| Petroleum | 98 MW | 4% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McFarland B Solar and Storage | AES Clean Energy | Battery storage | 450 MW | 2024 |
| Yucca | Arizona Public Service Co | Natural gas | 422 MW | 1959 |
| Agua Caliente Solar Project | Agua Caliente Solar | Solar | 348 MW | 2012 |
| McFarland A Solar and Storage | AES Clean Energy | Battery storage | 300 MW | 2023 |
| McFarland C | AES Clean Energy | Battery storage | 185 MW | 2025 |
| White Wing Solar | Leeward Asset Management, LLC | Solar | 179 MW | 2024 |
Planned generation 4
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elisabeth Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 350 MW | Approvals pending | 2028 | Leeward Asset Management, LLC |
| Pioneer Clean Energy Center | Solar Photovoltaic | 300 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Yuma bn, LLC |
| Pioneer Clean Energy Center | Batteries | 300 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Yuma bn, LLC |
| Ironwood Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 168 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | Arizona Public Service Co |
The Yuma County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 71,265 | $56,794 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 3,980 | $55,929 | 1.05 |
| Data processing and hosting | 7 | $94,674 | 0.03 |
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 Yuma County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Yuma County. Arizona has 6 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Imperial County, Pima County.
Yuma County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Yuma County, Maricopa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma County | 224,449 | ▲ 4.1% | 2,353 MW | 1,118 MW | — | — |
| Imperial County CA | 181,411 | ▲ 7.1% | 4,558 MW | 662 MW | 1 | 3 |
| La Paz County | 16,711 | ▲ 10.8% | 1,213 MW | 3,013 MW | — | — |
| Maricopa County | 4,689,558 | ▲ 11.0% | 23,852 MW | 3,792 MW | 183 | — |
| Pima County | 1,074,685 | ▲ 3.0% | 2,075 MW | — | 13 | 1 |
More of Arizona
Yuma County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Yuma County, Arizona?
3 utilities have service territory in Yuma County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Arizona Public Service Co, Wellton-Mohawk Irr & Drain Dist, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, Arizona Public Service Co, charged residential customers 16.45¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Yuma, AZ in?
Yuma is in Yuma County, Arizona. About 105,227 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is San Luis, AZ in?
San Luis is in Yuma County, Arizona. About 42,030 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Somerton, AZ in?
Somerton is in Yuma County, Arizona. About 14,934 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Yuma County?
13 operating plants with 2,353 MW of capacity. The largest is McFarland B Solar and Storage (450 MW, battery storage).
How much new power is planned in Yuma County?
1,118 MW across 4 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 768 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Yuma bn, LLC.
Are there data centers in Yuma County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Yuma County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Maricopa County.
Is Yuma County adding jobs?
Employers counted 71,265 jobs in 2025 against 68,455 in 2019 (+4.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 3,021 to 3,980.
Does Yuma County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Yuma County. Arizona has 6 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.