Jefferson Parish, Louisiana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kenner and Gretna, and the communities of Terrytown
The data center boom is not abstract in Jefferson Parish: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Jefferson Parish, 5% of Louisiana's total. Owners plan to retire 1,790 MW more by 2035, led by Nine Mile Point in 2031. Jefferson Parish is home to Kenner, Gretna, Harahan and Westwego, plus the unincorporated community of Terrytown. Its power plants have 2,449 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas, the 5th largest fleet in Louisiana. Construction employs 10,992, down 13.0% since 2019.
Cities and towns in Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish is home to Kenner, Gretna, Harahan and Westwego, plus the unincorporated community of Terrytown.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Terrytown, Avondale, Barataria, Bridge City, Elmwood, Estelle, Harvey, Jefferson, Lafitte, Marrero, Metairie, River Ridge, Timberlane, Waggaman, Woodmere.
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 Jefferson Parish
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Louisiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 439,688 | 431,398 | ▼ 1.9% | 2nd of 64 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 190,029 | 186,101 | ▼ 2.1% | 41st of 64 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $50,981 | $66,283 | ▲ 30.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,640 | 10,992 | ▼ 13.0% | 38th of 43 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,150 | 1,591 | ▼ 26.0% | — |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 336 | 380 | ▲ 13.1% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 320 | 539 | ▲ 68.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 3.5% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 186,101 jobs in 2025, down 2.1% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019. Entergy Louisiana LLC is the largest utility serving Jefferson Parish. Its residential customers paid an average 11.05¢/kWh in 2024, below the 11.88¢ median for Louisiana utilities. 431,398 people live here, down 1.9% since 2020, 2nd of 64 Louisiana counties by population. Electrical contractors employ 1,591, down 26.0% since 2019 against down 2.9% statewide, at an average $72,746 a year.
Who powers Jefferson Parish
Utilities with service territory in Jefferson Parish
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Louisiana LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 957,522 | 11.05¢ | 20% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 2,449 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nine Mile Point | Entergy Louisiana LLC | Natural gas | 2,440 MW | 1971 |
| Grand Isle Gas Plant / Treating Station | Cox Operating LLC | Natural gas | 9 MW | 1965 |
Scheduled to retire
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nine Mile Point | Natural gas | 895 MW | 2031 |
| Nine Mile Point | Natural gas | 895 MW | 2033 |
The Jefferson Parish labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 186,101 | $66,283 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 10,992 | $83,070 | 1.11 |
| Electrical contractors | 1,591 | $72,746 | 1.19 |
| Power and communication line construction | 380 | $70,437 | 1.26 |
| Data processing and hosting | 539 | $55,189 | 0.93 |
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 Jefferson Parish
1 data center in Jefferson Parish is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Jefferson Parish and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Parish | 431,398 | ▼ 2.1% | 2,449 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Lafourche Parish | 95,505 | ▲ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Orleans Parish | 362,154 | ▼ 6.7% | 156 MW | 8 MW | 4 | — |
| Plaquemines Parish | 22,256 | ▲ 12.0% | 24 MW | — | — | — |
| St. Charles Parish | 50,586 | ▼ 1.8% | 4,907 MW | 1,640 MW | — | 1 |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 39,875 | ▼ 7.2% | — | — | — | — |
| St. Tammany Parish | 279,108 | ▲ 8.2% | — | — | 2 | — |
More of Louisiana
Jefferson Parish, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana?
1 utility has service territory in Jefferson Parish in the EIA-861 2024 report: Entergy Louisiana LLC. The largest, Entergy Louisiana LLC, charged residential customers 11.05¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Kenner, LA in?
Kenner is in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. About 65,136 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Gretna, LA in?
Gretna is in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. About 17,360 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Jefferson Parish?
2 operating plants with 2,449 MW of capacity. The largest is Nine Mile Point (2,440 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Jefferson Parish?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Jefferson Parish.
Is Jefferson Parish adding jobs?
Employers counted 186,101 jobs in 2025 against 190,029 in 2019 (-2.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 12,640 to 10,992.
Does Jefferson Parish have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jefferson Parish. Louisiana has 3 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.