Madison County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Madison
Madison County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Madison County is home to Madison and Greenville. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through July 22, 2027”. 74 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Florida Power & Light Co (solar). 74 MW of it is already under construction or built. Employers here counted 4,960 jobs in 2025, up 10.1% from 2019. 224 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Madison County
Madison County is home to Madison and Greenville.
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 Madison County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 17,863 | 18,759 | ▲ 5.0% | 57th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,503 | 4,960 | ▲ 10.1% | 29th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,283 | $45,601 | ▲ 37.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.4% | 5.2% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 224 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 74 MW | 33% of today's fleet | 15th of 18 by size |
Unemployment was 5.2% in August 2026, against 4.4% in 2019. Its power plants have 224 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Duke Energy Florida, LLC is the largest utility serving Madison County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.63¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.54¢ median for Florida utilities. 18,759 people live here, up 5.0% since 2020.
Who powers Madison County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +224 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Madison County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,793,067 | 16.63¢ | 38% |
| Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (FL) | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,028 | 17.61¢ | 14% |
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 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 224 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sundance Renewable Energy Center | Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Solar | 75 MW | 2025 |
| Winquepin Renewable Energy Center | Duke Energy Florida, LLC | Solar | 75 MW | 2024 |
| Norton Creek | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2024 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Lake | Solar Photovoltaic | 74 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Florida Power & Light Co |
The Madison County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,960 | $45,601 | 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 Madison County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through July 22, 2027 | In force | 2026-01 |
Madison County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Madison County, Suwannee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 18,759 | ▲ 10.1% | 224 MW | 74 MW | — | 1 |
| Brooks County GA | 16,101 | ● 0.0% | 300 MW | — | — | — |
| Hamilton County | 14,180 | ▲ 2.8% | 174 MW | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 16,007 | ▲ 19.3% | — | 75 MW | — | — |
| Lafayette County | 8,792 | ▲ 3.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Lowndes County GA | 122,867 | ▼ 0.5% | 193 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Suwannee County | 48,149 | ▲ 3.1% | 466 MW | — | — | — |
| Taylor County | 21,210 | ▼ 15.1% | 5 MW | — | — | 1 |
More of Florida
Madison County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Madison County, Florida?
2 utilities have service territory in Madison County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Florida, LLC, Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (FL). The largest, Duke Energy Florida, LLC, charged residential customers 16.63¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Madison County?
3 operating plants with 224 MW of capacity. The largest is Sundance Renewable Energy Center (75 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Madison County?
74 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 74 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Florida Power & Light Co.
Are there data centers in Madison County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Madison County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lowndes County.
Is Madison County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,960 jobs in 2025 against 4,503 in 2019 (+10.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Madison County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Madison County, 1 in force.