McDuffie County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Thomson
The data center boom is not abstract in McDuffie County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in McDuffie County. McDuffie County is home to Thomson and Dearing. 250 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by EDF Renewables Development, Inc. (solar), the 7th largest pipeline among Georgia's counties. Construction employs 412, down 2.6% since 2019. Unemployment was 4.1% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in McDuffie County
McDuffie County is home to Thomson and Dearing.
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 McDuffie County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 21,609 | 21,640 | ▲ 0.1% | 84th of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,839 | 7,094 | ▲ 3.7% | 89th of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,175 | $46,327 | ▲ 28.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 423 | 412 | ▼ 2.6% | 83rd of 97 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 13 | 13 | ● 0.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 4.1% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 250 MW | no fleet today | 7th of 18 by size |
Employers here counted 7,094 jobs in 2025, up 3.7% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 13, unchanged since 2019 against up 21.5% statewide, at an average $70,307 a year. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving McDuffie County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.49¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.61¢ median for Georgia utilities. 21,640 people live here, up 0.1% since 2020.
Who powers McDuffie County
Utilities with service territory in McDuffie 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% |
| Jefferson Electric Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 34,490 | 13.27¢ | 12% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in McDuffie County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock House Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 250 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | EDF Renewables Development, Inc. |
The McDuffie County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,094 | $46,327 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 412 | $56,667 | 1.10 |
| Electrical contractors | 13 | $70,307 | 0.25 |
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 McDuffie County
1 data center in McDuffie County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
McDuffie County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McDuffie County, Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDuffie County | 21,640 | ▲ 3.7% | — | 250 MW | 1 | — |
| Columbia County | 169,189 | ▲ 17.5% | 21 MW | — | 5 | 1 |
| Jefferson County | 15,011 | ▲ 2.6% | 261 MW | — | — | — |
| Lincoln County | 8,112 | ▲ 15.9% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Richmond County | 206,559 | ▼ 0.5% | 128 MW | — | 4 | 1 |
| Warren County | 5,269 | ▼ 11.8% | 80 MW | 107 MW | — | — |
| Wilkes County | 9,540 | ▼ 0.9% | — | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
McDuffie County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McDuffie County, Georgia?
2 utilities have service territory in McDuffie County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Jefferson Electric Member Corp. The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in McDuffie County?
250 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is EDF Renewables Development, Inc..
Are there data centers in McDuffie County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in McDuffie County.
Is McDuffie County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,094 jobs in 2025 against 6,839 in 2019 (+3.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 423 to 412.
Does McDuffie County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for McDuffie County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.