Washington County, Florida: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Chipley
Washington County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Construction employs 580, up 61.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.7 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Washington County is home to Chipley and Vernon. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “One-year moratorium on data center applications”. Unemployment was 5.4% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019. 74 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Chipley and Vernon.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 25,324 | 26,695 | ▲ 5.4% | 52nd of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,097 | 6,397 | ▲ 4.9% | 53rd of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $35,994 | $47,423 | ▲ 31.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 359 | 580 | ▲ 61.6% | 4th of 59 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 5.4% | ▲ 1.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 74 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 6,397 jobs in 2025, up 4.9% from 2019. Its power plants have 74 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Electrical contractors employ 49, at an average $43,967 a year. Florida Power & Light Co is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.71¢/kWh in 2024. 26,695 people live here, up 5.4% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +74 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Washington 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% |
| West Florida El Coop Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 26,357 | 16.36¢ | 14% |
| Gulf Coast Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 21,220 | 14.67¢ | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPL Cypress Pond Solar | Florida Power & Light Co | Solar | 74 MW | 2023 |
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,397 | $47,423 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 580 | $51,837 | 1.71 |
| Electrical contractors | 49 | $43,967 | 1.06 |
| Power and communication line construction | 125 | $70,897 | 12.10 |
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 Washington County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year moratorium on data center applications | In force | 2026-08 |
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Washington County, Bay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 26,695 | ▲ 4.9% | 74 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Bay County | 204,479 | ▲ 11.5% | 961 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Holmes County | 20,119 | ▲ 5.9% | — | — | — | 2 |
| Jackson County | 49,629 | ▼ 0.6% | 228 MW | 75 MW | — | 2 |
| Walton County | 93,288 | ▲ 29.4% | 298 MW | 74 MW | — | 1 |
More of Florida
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Florida?
3 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Florida Power & Light Co, West Florida El Coop Assn, Inc, Gulf Coast Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Florida Power & Light Co, charged residential customers 13.71¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Washington County?
1 operating plant with 74 MW of capacity. The largest is FPL Cypress Pond Solar (74 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,397 jobs in 2025 against 6,097 in 2019 (+4.9%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 359 to 580.
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Washington County, 1 in force.