Wayne County, Georgia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Jesup
Wayne County is where a large share of Georgia's next power plants are planned. 2,500 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by BrightNight Power (solar), the largest pipeline among Georgia's counties. Wayne County is home to Jesup, Screven and Odum. Employers here counted 9,050 jobs in 2025, up 10.8% from 2019. 3 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Wayne County
Wayne County is home to Jesup, Screven and Odum.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Gardi.
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 Wayne County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 30,145 | 32,481 | ▲ 7.7% | 62nd of 159 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,170 | 9,050 | ▲ 10.8% | 53rd of 159 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,359 | $52,520 | ▲ 24.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 3.3% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 3 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 2,500 MW | 3467% of today's fleet | 1st of 18 by size |
Its power plants have 72 MW of capacity, 96% of it other technologies. Electrical contractors employ 245, at an average $66,685 a year. Georgia Power Co is the largest utility serving Wayne 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. 32,481 people live here, up 7.7% since 2020.
Who powers Wayne County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +3 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Wayne 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% |
| Satilla Rural Elec Member Corporation | Cooperative | Bundled | 54,115 | 13.99¢ | 11% |
| Okefenoke Rural El Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 27,736 | 14.24¢ | 9% |
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 | 70 MW | 96% |
| Solar | 3 MW | 4% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesup Plant | Rayonier Advanced Materials | Other technologies | 70 MW | 1954 |
| Westberry Jesup | Westbound Solar LLC | Solar | 3 MW | 2020 |
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper Hammock Solar and Storage | Solar Photovoltaic | 1,200 MW | Approvals pending | 2029 | BrightNight Power |
| Pepper Hammock Solar and Storage | Solar Photovoltaic | 900 MW | Approvals pending | 2029 | BrightNight Power |
| Pepper Hammock Solar and Storage | Batteries | 400 MW | Approvals pending | 2029 | BrightNight Power |
The Wayne County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,050 | $52,520 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 245 | $66,685 | 3.75 |
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 Wayne County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Wayne County. Georgia has 60 local measures on record statewide.
Wayne County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Wayne County, Appling 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 32,481 | ▲ 10.8% | 72 MW | 2,500 MW | — | — |
| Appling County | 19,100 | ▲ 10.9% | 1,873 MW | — | — | — |
| Brantley County | 18,936 | ▲ 9.1% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Glynn County | 87,599 | ▲ 11.5% | 650 MW | — | — | — |
| Long County | 21,557 | ▲ 33.6% | — | — | — | — |
| McIntosh County | 11,989 | ▲ 5.2% | — | — | — | — |
| Pierce County | 20,764 | ▲ 11.2% | 2 MW | — | — | — |
| Tattnall County | 24,376 | ▼ 3.4% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
More of Georgia
Wayne County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Wayne County, Georgia?
3 utilities have service territory in Wayne County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Georgia Power Co, Satilla Rural Elec Member Corporation, Okefenoke Rural El Member Corp. The largest, Georgia Power Co, charged residential customers 15.49¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Jesup, GA in?
Jesup is in Wayne County, Georgia. About 10,301 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Wayne County?
2 operating plants with 72 MW of capacity. The largest is Jesup Plant (70 MW, other technologies).
How much new power is planned in Wayne County?
2,500 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is BrightNight Power.
Are there data centers in Wayne County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Wayne County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Brantley County.
Is Wayne County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,050 jobs in 2025 against 8,170 in 2019 (+10.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Wayne County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Wayne County. Georgia has 60 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.