Massac County, Illinois: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Metropolis
Massac County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Massac County. 1,401 MW has retired here since 2019, including Joppa Steam (coal, 1,100 MW, 2022). Massac County is home to Metropolis and Brookport. 2 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Generate Capital (solar). 2 MW of it is already under construction or built. Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 4.9% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Massac County
Massac County is home to Metropolis and Brookport.
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 Massac County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,141 | 13,502 | ▼ 4.5% | 76th of 102 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,077 | 2,853 | ▼ 7.3% | 86th of 102 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,877 | $54,322 | ▲ 23.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 58 | 62 | ▲ 6.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.9% | 3.7% | ▼ 1.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 1,401 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 2 MW | no fleet today | 53rd of 57 by size |
Employers here counted 2,853 jobs in 2025, down 7.3% from 2019. Ameren Illinois Company is the largest utility serving Massac County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.26¢/kWh in 2024. 13,502 people live here, down 4.5% since 2020.
Who powers Massac County
Utilities with service territory in Massac County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ameren Illinois Company | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,060,894 | 15.26¢ | 28% |
| Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 22,731 | 14.47¢ | 12% |
| City of Metropolis - (IL) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Southern Illinois Elec Coop | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Massac County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sommer | Solar Photovoltaic | 2 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Generate Capital |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joppa Steam | Coal | 1,100 MW | 2022 |
| MEPI GT Facility | Natural gas | 302 MW | 2022 |
The Massac County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,853 | $54,322 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 62 | $50,138 | 0.41 |
| Electric utilities | 5 | $295,253 | 0.65 |
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 Massac County
1 data center in Massac County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Massac County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Massac County, McCracken 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massac County | 13,502 | ▼ 7.3% | — | 2 MW | 1 | — |
| Johnson County | 13,363 | ▲ 17.2% | — | 36 MW | — | — |
| Livingston County KY | 8,863 | ▲ 35.9% | 76 MW | — | — | — |
| McCracken County KY | 67,553 | ▲ 5.4% | 1,695 MW | 400 MW | 4 | — |
| Pope County | 3,672 | ▼ 9.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Pulaski County | 4,820 | ▼ 22.9% | 5 MW | 417 MW | — | — |
More of Illinois
Massac County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Massac County, Illinois?
4 utilities have service territory in Massac County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ameren Illinois Company, Southeastern IL Elec Coop, Inc, City of Metropolis - (IL), Southern Illinois Elec Coop. The largest, Ameren Illinois Company, charged residential customers 15.26¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Massac County?
2 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 2 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Generate Capital.
Are there data centers in Massac County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Massac County.
Is Massac County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,853 jobs in 2025 against 3,077 in 2019 (-7.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 58 to 62.
Does Massac County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Massac County. Illinois has 28 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.