Banner County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Harrisburg
No data center or power plant project is on record in Banner County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Banner County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Harrisburg, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Employers here counted 129 jobs in 2025, up 20.6% from 2019 (the fastest growth of 93 Nebraska counties). Next door, Laramie County, Wyoming, has 28 data centers and 1,485 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019. High West Energy, Inc is the largest utility serving Banner County, one of 6 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.68¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities.
Cities and towns in Banner County
Banner County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Harrisburg, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Harrisburg.
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 Banner County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 679 | 686 | ▲ 1.0% | 85th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 107 | 129 | ▲ 20.6% | 1st of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $37,669 | $46,147 | ▲ 22.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 3.6% | ▼ 0.9pts | — |
686 people live here, up 1.0% since 2020.
Who powers Banner County
Utilities with service territory in Banner County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High West Energy, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 1,752 | 14.68¢ | 7% |
| Chimney Rock Public Power Dist | — | — | — | — | — |
| Roosevelt Public Power Dist | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wheat Belt Public Power Dist | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wyrulec Company | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 98% |
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 Banner County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Banner County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 129 | $46,147 | 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 Banner County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Banner County. Nebraska has 23 local measures on record statewide.
Banner County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Banner County, Laramie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banner County | 686 | ▲ 20.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Cheyenne County | 9,528 | ▼ 4.9% | 4 MW | — | — | — |
| Goshen County WY | 12,640 | ▼ 1.1% | — | 163 MW | — | — |
| Kimball County | 3,391 | ▲ 9.3% | 38 MW | — | — | — |
| Laramie County WY | 102,938 | ▲ 4.9% | 746 MW | 1,485 MW | 28 | — |
| Morrill County | 4,404 | ▼ 1.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Scotts Bluff County | 35,586 | ▼ 2.3% | 16 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Banner County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Banner County, Nebraska?
6 utilities have service territory in Banner County in the EIA-861 2024 report: High West Energy, Inc, Chimney Rock Public Power Dist, Roosevelt Public Power Dist, Wheat Belt Public Power Dist. The largest, High West Energy, Inc, charged residential customers 14.68¢/kWh on average in 2024.
Are there data centers in Banner County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Banner County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Laramie County.
Is Banner County adding jobs?
Employers counted 129 jobs in 2025 against 107 in 2019 (+20.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Banner County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Banner County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.