Barrow County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Winder, Auburn and Statham
No data center or power plant project is on record in Barrow County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 2,069, up 57.0% since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Barrow County is home to Winder, most of Auburn (9,829 of its 10,110 residents), Statham and part of Braselton (2,777 of its 18,496 residents). Employers here counted 24,813 jobs in 2025, up 23.1% from 2019. Next door, Gwinnett County has 12 data centers. 99,773 people live here, up 18.7% since 2020.
Cities and towns in Barrow County
Barrow County is home to Winder, most of Auburn (9,829 of its 10,110 residents), Statham and part of Braselton (2,777 of its 18,496 residents).
- Auburn also extends into Gwinnett County.
- Braselton also extends into Jackson County, Gwinnett County, Hall County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Russell.
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 Barrow County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 84,066 | 99,773 | ▲ 18.7% | 28th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 20,157 | 24,813 | ▲ 23.1% | 11th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,655 | $56,105 | ▲ 34.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,318 | 2,069 | ▲ 57.0% | 21st of 97 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 201 | 182 | ▼ 9.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.9% | 2.9% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 9 MW of capacity, 77% of it other technologies. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Barrow County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. Electrical contractors employ 182, down 9.5% since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $76,888 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 2.9% in 2019.
Who powers Barrow County
Utilities with service territory in Barrow County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,452,488 | 15.49¢ | 39% |
| Jackson Electric Member Corp - (GA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 239,558 | 11.38¢ | 28% |
| Walton Electric Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 131,915 | 12.99¢ | 47% |
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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 7 MW | 77% |
| Solar | 2 MW | 23% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia LFG Oak Grove Plant | Cube District Energy, LLC | Other technologies | 7 MW | 2016 |
| Cedar Creek Solar, LLC | Southeastern Solar Farm Fund, LLC | Solar | 2 MW | 2017 |
The Barrow County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 24,813 | $56,105 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 2,069 | $81,738 | 1.57 |
| Electrical contractors | 182 | $76,888 | 1.02 |
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 Barrow County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Barrow County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Clarke County, Hall County.
Barrow County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Barrow County, Gwinnett 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrow County | 99,773 | ▲ 23.1% | 9 MW | — | — | — |
| Clarke County | 129,921 | ▲ 5.0% | 8 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Gwinnett County | 1,018,099 | ▲ 7.8% | 11 MW | — | 12 | — |
| Hall County | 226,568 | ▲ 15.3% | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jackson County | 99,265 | ▲ 51.4% | 919 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Oconee County | 44,893 | ▲ 26.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Walton County | 112,696 | ▲ 14.1% | 1,326 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Georgia
Barrow County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Barrow County, Georgia?
3 utilities have service territory in Barrow County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Jackson Electric Member Corp - (GA), Walton Electric Member Corp. The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Winder, GA in?
Winder is in Barrow County, Georgia. About 21,252 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Barrow County?
2 operating plants with 9 MW of capacity. The largest is Georgia LFG Oak Grove Plant (7 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Barrow County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Barrow County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Gwinnett County.
Is Barrow County adding jobs?
Employers counted 24,813 jobs in 2025 against 20,157 in 2019 (+23.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,318 to 2,069.
Does Barrow County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Barrow County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.