Washington County, Kentucky: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Springfield
No data center or power plant project is on record in Washington County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Washington County is home to Springfield. 120 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by FRON bn, LLC (solar), the 9th largest pipeline among Kentucky's counties. Next door, Mercer County has 1 data center. Employers here counted 3,569 jobs in 2025, up 6.1% from 2019. Kentucky Utilities Co is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 11.85¢/kWh in 2024, below the 13.21¢ median for Kentucky utilities.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Springfield.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 12,042 | 12,368 | ▲ 2.7% | 91st of 120 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,365 | 3,569 | ▲ 6.1% | 42nd of 120 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,034 | $53,040 | ▲ 29.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 3.8% | ▼ 0.1pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 120 MW | no fleet today | 9th of 17 by size |
Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. 12,368 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Utilities Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 450,673 | 11.85¢ | 32% |
| Blue Grass Energy Coop Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 60,641 | 12.32¢ | 14% |
| Salt River Electric Coop Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 53,479 | 10.88¢ | 23% |
| Inter County Energy Coop Corp - (KY) | Cooperative | Bundled | 26,655 | 13.74¢ | 10% |
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 Washington County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 120 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | FRON bn, LLC |
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,569 | $53,040 | 1.00 |
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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Kentucky has 44 local measures on record statewide, and 3 neighboring counties have one: Boyle County, Mercer County, Nelson County.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Washington County, Mercer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 12,368 | ▲ 6.1% | — | 120 MW | — | — |
| Anderson County | 25,225 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Boyle County | 31,632 | ▲ 2.6% | — | — | — | 1 |
| Marion County | 20,115 | ▲ 1.9% | — | 96 MW | — | — |
| Mercer County | 23,733 | ▲ 0.8% | 1,488 MW | 125 MW | 1 | 2 |
| Nelson County | 49,036 | ▲ 12.4% | — | — | — | 1 |
More of Kentucky
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Kentucky?
4 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Kentucky Utilities Co, Blue Grass Energy Coop Corp, Salt River Electric Coop Corp, Inter County Energy Coop Corp - (KY). The largest, Kentucky Utilities Co, charged residential customers 11.85¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Washington County?
120 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is FRON bn, LLC.
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Mercer County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,569 jobs in 2025 against 3,365 in 2019 (+6.1%, BLS QCEW).
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Kentucky has 44 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.