Union County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Lake Butler
No data center or power plant project is on record in Union County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Union County is home to Lake Butler. Unemployment was 6.4% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019. Construction employs 193, down 14.2% since 2019. Next door, Alachua County has 1 data center. 74 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Union County
Union County is home to Lake Butler.
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 Union County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 15,442 | 16,250 | ▲ 5.2% | 59th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,370 | 3,536 | ▲ 4.9% | 52nd of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,684 | $53,422 | ▲ 38.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 225 | 193 | ▼ 14.2% | 58th of 59 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 6.4% | ▲ 2.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 74 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 3,536 jobs in 2025, up 4.9% from 2019. Its power plants have 74 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Florida Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Union County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.71¢/kWh in 2024. 16,250 people live here, up 5.2% since 2020.
Who powers Union County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +74 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Union 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% |
| Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc - (FL) | Cooperative | Bundled | 171,179 | 13.09¢ | 20% |
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 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 74 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Springs Solar Center | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2020 |
The Union County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,536 | $53,422 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 193 | $56,830 | 1.03 |
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 Union County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Union County. Florida has 45 local measures on record statewide.
Union County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Union County, Alachua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 16,250 | ▲ 4.9% | 74 MW | — | — | — |
| Alachua County | 290,028 | ▲ 5.0% | 957 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Baker County | 29,737 | ▼ 1.5% | 298 MW | 74 MW | — | — |
| Bradford County | 28,307 | ▲ 51.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Columbia County | 74,094 | ▲ 0.3% | 403 MW | — | — | — |
More of Florida
Union County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Union County, Florida?
2 utilities have service territory in Union County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Florida Power & Light Co, Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc - (FL). The largest, Florida Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 13.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Union County?
1 operating plant with 74 MW of capacity. The largest is Union Springs Solar Center (74 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Union County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Union County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Alachua County.
Is Union County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,536 jobs in 2025 against 3,370 in 2019 (+4.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 225 to 193.
Does Union County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Union County. Florida has 45 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.