Mercer County, Illinois: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Mercer Township, Aledo and Richland Grove Township
The data center boom is not abstract in Mercer County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Mercer County. Mercer County is home to Mercer Township, Aledo, Richland Grove Township and Preemption Township. 42 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Birch Creek Development (solar). 42 MW of it is already under construction or built. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019. 10 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Mercer County
Mercer County is home to Mercer Township, Aledo, Richland Grove Township and Preemption Township.
And 2 smaller places.
- Alexis also extends into Warren County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cable, Eliza, Hamlet, Millersburg, Preemption, Swedona.
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 Mercer County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 15,637 | 15,229 | ▼ 2.6% | 68th of 102 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,157 | 3,190 | ▲ 1.0% | 40th of 102 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,574 | $43,448 | ▲ 29.4% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 109 | 87 | ▼ 20.2% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 3.6% | ▼ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 10 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 42 MW | 420% of today's fleet | 22nd of 57 by size |
Its power plants have 10 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Ameren Illinois Company is the largest utility serving Mercer County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.26¢/kWh in 2024. Employers here counted 3,190 jobs in 2025, up 1.0% from 2019. 15,229 people live here, down 2.6% since 2020.
Who powers Mercer County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +10 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Mercer 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% |
| MidAmerican Energy Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 73,582 | 9.99¢ | 33% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 10 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldenrod (IL) | Generate Capital | Solar | 5 MW | 2025 |
| Pope Creek Solar PV | Pope Creek Solar, LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2024 |
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 40 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Birch Creek Development |
| Keithsburg North Solar LLC PV | Solar Photovoltaic | 2 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | Keithsburg North Solar, LLC PV |
The Mercer County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,190 | $43,448 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 87 | $48,610 | 0.51 |
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 Mercer County
1 data center in Mercer County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Mercer County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Mercer County, Rock Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | 15,229 | ▲ 1.0% | 10 MW | 42 MW | 1 | — |
| Des Moines County IA | 38,077 | ▼ 6.3% | 291 MW | — | — | — |
| Henderson County | 5,984 | ▲ 8.8% | 1 MW | — | — | — |
| Henry County | 48,095 | ▼ 1.7% | 551 MW | 8 MW | — | — |
| Knox County | 47,767 | ▼ 2.4% | 16 MW | 5 MW | 1 | — |
| Louisa County IA | 10,416 | ▼ 3.7% | 912 MW | — | — | — |
| Muscatine County IA | 41,853 | ▼ 9.0% | 300 MW | 59 MW | 1 | — |
| Rock Island County | 141,869 | ▼ 6.2% | 2,705 MW | — | — | — |
| Warren County | 16,222 | ▼ 0.8% | 35 MW | — | — | — |
More of Illinois
Mercer County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Mercer County, Illinois?
2 utilities have service territory in Mercer County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ameren Illinois Company, MidAmerican Energy Co. The largest, Ameren Illinois Company, charged residential customers 15.26¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Mercer County?
2 operating plants with 10 MW of capacity. The largest is Goldenrod (IL) (5 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Mercer County?
42 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 42 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Birch Creek Development.
Are there data centers in Mercer County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Mercer County.
Is Mercer County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,190 jobs in 2025 against 3,157 in 2019 (+1.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 109 to 87.
Does Mercer County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Mercer County. Illinois has 28 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.