DeSoto County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Arcadia
DeSoto County sits inside the data center build-out. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in DeSoto County. Construction employs 952, up 36.0% since 2019, and construction is 1.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. DeSoto County is home to Arcadia. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Local moratorium on data centers through July 29, 2027”. Unemployment was 6.0% in August 2026, against 3.5% in 2019.
Cities and towns in DeSoto County
DeSoto County is home to Arcadia.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Southeast Arcadia.
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 DeSoto County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 34,093 | 37,078 | ▲ 8.8% | 49th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 9,283 | 9,848 | ▲ 6.1% | 47th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,922 | $51,877 | ▲ 36.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 700 | 952 | ▲ 36.0% | 9th of 59 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.5% | 6.0% | ▲ 2.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 447 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 149 MW | 24% of today's fleet | 5th of 18 by size |
149 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Florida Power & Light Co (solar), the 5th largest pipeline among Florida's counties. 149 MW of it is already under construction or built. 447 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 625 MW of capacity, 99% of it solar. Employers here counted 9,848 jobs in 2025, up 6.1% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 56, at an average $43,857 a year. 37,078 people live here, up 8.8% since 2020. Florida Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving DeSoto County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.71¢/kWh in 2024.
Who powers DeSoto County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +447 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in DeSoto County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Power & Light Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 5,236,277 | 13.71¢ | 41% |
| Peace River Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 57,589 | 12.35¢ | 31% |
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 9
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 621 MW | 99% |
| Battery storage | 4 MW | 1% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citrus Solar Energy Center Hybrid | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 78 MW | 2016 |
| Cattle Ranch | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2020 |
| Hawthorne Creek | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2024 |
| Hog Bay | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2025 |
| Mare Branch | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2026 |
| Prairie Creek FL | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2024 |
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Line | Solar Photovoltaic | 74 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Florida Power & Light Co |
| Joshua Creek | Solar Photovoltaic | 74 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Florida Power & Light Co |
The DeSoto County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,848 | $51,877 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 952 | $59,457 | 1.82 |
| Electrical contractors | 56 | $43,857 | 0.79 |
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 DeSoto County
1 data center in DeSoto County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local moratorium on data centers through July 29, 2027 | In force | 2026-07 |
DeSoto County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border DeSoto County, Manatee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County | 37,078 | ▲ 6.1% | 625 MW | 149 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Charlotte County | 217,212 | ▲ 17.4% | 236 MW | — | — | — |
| Glades County | 13,270 | ▲ 11.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Hardee County | 25,932 | ▲ 6.3% | 2,201 MW | — | — | — |
| Highlands County | 111,122 | ▲ 4.3% | 62 MW | 150 MW | — | — |
| Manatee County | 468,200 | ▲ 11.9% | 4,152 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Sarasota County | 479,958 | ▲ 12.9% | 6 MW | — | — | 1 |
More of Florida
DeSoto County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in DeSoto County, Florida?
2 utilities have service territory in DeSoto County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Florida Power & Light Co, Peace River Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Florida Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 13.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in DeSoto County?
9 operating plants with 625 MW of capacity. The largest is Citrus Solar Energy Center Hybrid (78 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in DeSoto County?
149 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 149 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Florida Power & Light Co.
Are there data centers in DeSoto County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in DeSoto County.
Is DeSoto County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,848 jobs in 2025 against 9,283 in 2019 (+6.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 700 to 952.
Does DeSoto County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for DeSoto County, 1 in force.