Lamar County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Barnesville
The data center boom is not abstract in Lamar County: it is on the ground here. Construction employs 190, up 118.4% since 2019. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Lamar County. Lamar County is home to Barnesville and Milner. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Lamar County data center moratorium”. Employers here counted 4,462 jobs in 2025, up 22.4% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Lamar County
Lamar County is home to Barnesville and Milner.
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 Lamar County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 18,555 | 20,941 | ▲ 12.9% | 89th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,645 | 4,462 | ▲ 22.4% | 13th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,705 | $51,265 | ▲ 29.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 87 | 190 | ▲ 118.4% | 5th of 97 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 4.3% | ▼ 0.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
20,941 people live here, up 12.9% since 2020. Its power plants have 60 MW of capacity, 100% of it other technologies. Electrical contractors employ 81, at an average $69,194 a year. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Lamar County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019.
Who powers Lamar County
Utilities with service territory in Lamar 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% |
| Central Georgia El Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 61,155 | 12.24¢ | 14% |
| Southern Rivers Energy | Cooperative | Bundled | 20,411 | 16.41¢ | 11% |
| City of Griffin - (GA) | Municipal | Bundled | 13,594 | 15.00¢ | 39% |
| City of Barnesville - (GA) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 60 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Green Power | Piedmont Green Power LLC | Other technologies | 60 MW | 2013 |
The Lamar County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,462 | $51,265 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 190 | $69,878 | 0.80 |
| Electrical contractors | 81 | $69,194 | 2.52 |
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 Lamar County
1 data center in Lamar County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County data center moratorium | In force | 2025-09 |
Lamar County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Lamar County, Monroe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | 20,941 | ▲ 22.4% | 60 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Butts County | 27,218 | ▲ 19.3% | — | — | 2 | — |
| Monroe County | 32,023 | ▲ 6.5% | 2,915 MW | 804 MW | 2 | 1 |
| Pike County | 20,932 | ▲ 19.3% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Spalding County | 70,775 | ▲ 4.8% | 7 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
| Upson County | 28,500 | ▲ 7.9% | 705 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Georgia
Lamar County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Lamar County, Georgia?
5 utilities have service territory in Lamar County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Central Georgia El Member Corp, Southern Rivers Energy, City of Griffin - (GA). The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Lamar County?
1 operating plant with 60 MW of capacity. The largest is Piedmont Green Power (60 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Lamar County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Lamar County.
Is Lamar County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,462 jobs in 2025 against 3,645 in 2019 (+22.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 87 to 190.
Does Lamar County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Lamar County, 1 in force.