# Kern County, California: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy

Home to Bakersfield, Delano and Ridgecrest

Kern County is where a large share of California's next power plants are planned. Its power plants have 18,776 MW of capacity, 36% of it solar, the largest fleet in California. 7,839 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. 3,420 MW of new generation is planned here across 33 units, led by 26SB 8me LLC (solar), the 2nd largest pipeline among California's counties. 3,040 MW of it is already under construction or built. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Kern County. Kern County is home to Bakersfield, Delano, Ridgecrest and Wasco.

18,776 MW
of operating power plants, mostly solar

3,420 MW
of new generation planned here, solar leading

3
data centers on the SAVRN Data Center Map

## Cities and towns in Kern County

Kern County is home to Bakersfield, Delano, Ridgecrest and Wasco.

Bakersfield422,165 residents
Delano52,334 residents
Ridgecrest28,333 residents
Wasco26,525 residents
Shafter23,871 residents
Arvin19,820 residents
McFarland14,709 residents
California City13,300 residents
Tehachapi11,852 residents
Taft6,995 residents
Maricopa1,018 residents

Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Alta Sierra, Bakersfield Country Club, Bear Valley Springs, Benton Park, Bodfish, Boron, Buttonwillow, Casa Loma, Cherokee Strip, China Lake Acres, Choctaw Valley, Cottonwood, Derby Acres, Di Giorgio, Dustin Acres, East Bakersfield, East Niles, Edison, Edmundson Acres, Edwards AFB, El Adobe, Fairfax, Fellows, Ford City, Frazier Park, Fuller Acres, Glennville, Golden Hills, Goodmanville, Greenacres, Greenfield, Hillcrest, Inyokern, Johannesburg, Keene, Kernville, La Cresta, Lake Isabella, Lake of the Woods, Lakeside and 37 more.

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 Kern County

| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 905,960 | 927,068 | ▲ 2.3% | 11th of 58 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 331,711 | 347,044 | ▲ 4.6% | 22nd of 58 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $48,354 | $61,737 | ▲ 27.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 16,286 | 16,086 | ▼ 1.2% | 33rd of 51 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,633 | 2,499 | ▲ 53.0% | — |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 401 | 400 | ▼ 0.2% | — |
| Electric utility jobs (2019 → 2025) | 597 | 801 | ▲ 34.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 7.8% | 8.4% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 7,839 MW |  | — |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 260 MW |  | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 3,420 MW | 18% of today's fleet | 2nd of 30 by size |

1 project is on the Delay Watchlist, including High-Speed Rail Corridor Data Center Deals (Merced/Madera). Electrical contractors employ 2,499, up 53.0% since 2019 against up 8.5% statewide, at an average $94,048 a year. 260 MW has retired here since 2019, including Sky River Wind Energy Center (wind, 77 MW, 2020). Construction employs 16,086, down 1.2% since 2019. Owners plan to retire 1 MW more by 2035, led by Bakersfield 111 in 2035. Employers here counted 347,044 jobs in 2025, up 4.6% from 2019. Unemployment was 8.4% in August 2026, against 7.8% in 2019. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is the largest utility serving Kern County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 39.62¢/kWh in 2024, above the 20.66¢ median for California utilities. 927,068 people live here, up 2.3% since 2020.

## Who powers Kern County

### Utilities with service territory in Kern County

| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | Investor Owned | Bundled | 5,047,461 | 39.62¢ | 30% |
| Southern California Edison Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 4,594,415 | 32.43¢ | 56% |

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 

| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 6,756 MW | 36% |
| Natural gas | 4,950 MW | 26% |
| Wind | 3,677 MW | 20% |
| Battery storage | 3,225 MW | 17% |
| Hydro | 104 MW | 1% |
| Other technologies | 62 MW | 0% |
| Petroleum | 2 MW | 0% |

| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Paloma Generating Plant | CXA La Paloma LLC | Natural gas | 1,156 MW | 2003 |
| Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm | 50LW 8me LLC | Solar | 1,000 MW | 2025 |
| Pastoria Energy Facility, LLC | Calpine Corp - Pastoria Energy Center | Natural gas | 779 MW | 2005 |
| Sunrise Power LLC | Sunrise Power Co LLC | Natural gas | 685 MW | 2001 |
| Elk Hills Power LLC | Elk Hills Power LLC | Natural gas | 623 MW | 2003 |
| Eland Solar & Storage Center, Phase 1 Hy | 68SF 8me LLC | Battery storage | 460 MW | 2024 |

### Planned generation 

| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellefield 2 Solar & Energy Storage Farm | Solar Photovoltaic | 500 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | 26SB 8me LLC |
| Bellefield 2 Solar & Energy Storage Farm | Batteries | 500 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | 26SB 8me LLC |
| Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 440 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2027 | Pelicans Jaw Solar LLC |
| Pelicans Jaw Hybrid Solar | Batteries | 238 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2027 | Pelicans Jaw Solar LLC |
| Sanborn Hybrid 3 | Solar Photovoltaic | 210 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | Terra-Gen Operating Co-Hybrid |
| Sanborn Hybrid 3 | Batteries | 210 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | Terra-Gen Operating Co-Hybrid |
| Bellefield 3 Solar and Battery Storage | Solar Photovoltaic | 150 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2030 | 51LV 8me, LLC |
| Aratina Solar Center 2 | Solar Photovoltaic | 150 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | 45MG 8me LLC |
| Bellefield 3 Solar and Battery Storage | Batteries | 150 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2030 | 51LV 8me, LLC |
| Aratina Solar Center 2 | Batteries | 113 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | 45MG 8me LLC |
| Sanborn Hybrid 3 | Solar Photovoltaic | 103 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | Terra-Gen Operating Co-Hybrid |
| Rosamond South II | Batteries | 92 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Golden Fields Solar VI, LLC |
| Jasmine | Solar Photovoltaic | 70 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2027 | AES Clean Energy |
| Chalan | Solar Photovoltaic | 65 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Origis Energy USA, Inc |
| Jasmine | Batteries | 64 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2027 | AES Clean Energy |
| Sanborn Hybrid 3 | Solar Photovoltaic | 55 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Terra-Gen Operating Co-Hybrid |
| Rosamond South II | Batteries | 48 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Golden Fields Solar VI, LLC |
| Syracuse and Tours Renewable Energy | Solar Photovoltaic | 40 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | Vesper Energy Development LLC |
| Syracuse and Tours Renewable Energy | Batteries | 40 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | Vesper Energy Development LLC |
| Windhub Solar B, LLC | Solar Photovoltaic | 26 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Windhub Solar B, LLC |

### Retired since 2019

| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky River Wind Energy Center | Wind | 77 MW | 2020 |
| Mt Poso Cogeneration | Other technologies | 62 MW | 2024 |
| Victory Garden Phase IV LLC | Wind | 22 MW | 2020 |
| 85 B | Wind | 21 MW | 2019 |

### Scheduled to retire

| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield 111 | Solar | 1 MW | 2035 |

## The Kern County labor market

| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 347,044 | $61,737 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 16,086 | $81,382 | 0.87 |
| Electrical contractors | 2,499 | $94,048 | 1.00 |
| Power and communication line construction | 400 | $111,631 | 0.71 |
| Electric utilities | 801 | $124,683 | 0.85 |

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 Kern County

3 data centers in Kern County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.

### Delay Watchlist 

| Project | Status | Cause | MW |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Speed Rail Corridor Data Center Deals (Merced/Madera) | pending review | water dispute | — |

## Kern County and its neighbors

Of the 8 counties that border Kern County, Los Angeles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County | 927,068 | ▲ 4.6% | 18,776 MW | 3,420 MW | 3 | — |
| Inyo County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/inyo-county) | 18,158 | ▼ 0.6% | 465 MW | 1,000 MW | — | — |
| Kings County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/kings-county) | 154,327 | ▲ 6.5% | 2,820 MW | 612 MW | — | — |
| Los Angeles County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/los-angeles-county) | 9,694,934 | ▲ 0.3% | 14,115 MW | 1,236 MW | 77 | 2 |
| San Bernardino County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/san-bernardino-county) | 2,224,091 | ▲ 9.7% | 7,081 MW | 1,500 MW | 5 | — |
| San Luis Obispo County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/san-luis-obispo-county) | 282,367 | ▲ 1.5% | 3,563 MW | 600 MW | 5 | — |
| Santa Barbara County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/santa-barbara-county) | 442,065 | ▲ 5.1% | 363 MW | 10 MW | 4 | — |
| Tulare County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/tulare-county) | 485,146 | ▲ 5.6% | 1,415 MW | 625 MW | — | 1 |
| Ventura County](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/ventura-county) | 830,851 | ▲ 1.5% | 2,039 MW | 135 MW | 2 | — |

## More of California

[All California countiesThe state power page and county mapOpen →](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california)[Los Angeles County9,694,934 peopleOpen →](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/los-angeles-county)[San Bernardino County2,224,091 peopleOpen →](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/san-bernardino-county)[Ventura County830,851 peopleOpen →](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/ventura-county)[Tulare County485,146 peopleOpen →](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/tulare-county)[Santa Barbara County442,065 peopleOpen →](https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/santa-barbara-county)

## Kern County, answered from the record

### Who provides electricity in Kern County, California?

2 utilities have service territory in Kern County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Southern California Edison Co. The largest, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., charged residential customers 39.62¢/kWh on average in 2024.

### What county is Bakersfield, CA in?

Bakersfield is in Kern County, California. About 422,165 people live there (2025 Census estimate).

### What county is Delano, CA in?

Delano is in Kern County, California. About 52,334 people live there (2025 Census estimate).

### What county is Ridgecrest, CA in?

Ridgecrest is in Kern County, California. About 28,333 people live there (2025 Census estimate).

### What power plants are in Kern County?

268 operating plants with 18,776 MW of capacity. The largest is La Paloma Generating Plant (1,156 MW, natural gas).

### How much new power is planned in Kern County?

3,420 MW across 33 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 3,040 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is 26SB 8me LLC.

### Are there data centers in Kern County?

Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Kern County.

### Is Kern County adding jobs?

Employers counted 347,044 jobs in 2025 against 331,711 in 2019 (+4.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 16,286 to 16,086.

### Does Kern County have a data center moratorium?

No county-level measure is on record for Kern County. California has 48 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.

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Canonical: https://savrn.com/power-supply-chain-map/california/kern-county
Updated: 2026-10-08. Refreshed weekly by SAVRN from EIA, BLS, BEA, Census and the SAVRN trackers. License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).