Cass County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Plattsmouth, Louisville and Eagle
New generation is lining up in Cass County. Construction employs 621, up 81.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.9 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Cass County is home to Plattsmouth, Louisville, Eagle and Weeping Water. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Cass County data center moratorium (proposed)”. 792 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by Omaha Public Power District (natural gas), the 2nd largest pipeline among Nebraska's counties. Employers here counted 6,206 jobs in 2025, up 6.8% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Cass County
Cass County is home to Plattsmouth, Louisville, Eagle and Weeping Water.
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 Cass County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 26,610 | 27,657 | ▲ 3.9% | 12th of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 5,811 | 6,206 | ▲ 6.8% | 15th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,518 | $52,957 | ▲ 34.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 342 | 621 | ▲ 81.6% | 1st of 35 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.3% | 2.8% | ▼ 0.5pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 1 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 792 MW | 229% of today's fleet | 2nd of 8 by size |
1 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly battery storage. Its power plants have 346 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas. Electrical contractors employ 111, at an average $48,773 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in August 2026, against 3.3% in 2019. Omaha Public Power District is the largest utility serving Cass County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.36¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities. 27,657 people live here, up 3.9% since 2020.
Who powers Cass County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +1 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Cass County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 362,918 | 12.36¢ | 48% |
| Nebraska Public Power District | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 73,650 | 10.63¢ | 28% |
| Village of Greenwood - (NE) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 | 345 MW | 100% |
| Battery storage | 1 MW | 0% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | Omaha Public Power District | Natural gas | 345 MW | 2003 |
| BRIGHT Battery | Omaha Public Power District | Battery storage | 1 MW | 2023 |
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | 264 MW | Approvals received | 2029 | Omaha Public Power District |
| Cass County | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | 264 MW | Approvals received | 2029 | Omaha Public Power District |
| Cass County | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | 264 MW | Approvals received | 2029 | Omaha Public Power District |
The Cass County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 6,206 | $52,957 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 621 | $55,474 | 1.89 |
| Electrical contractors | 111 | $48,773 | 2.48 |
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 Cass County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County data center moratorium (proposed) | In force | 2026-08 |
Cass County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Cass County, Sarpy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 27,657 | ▲ 6.8% | 346 MW | 792 MW | — | 1 |
| Fremont County IA | 6,522 | ▲ 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Lancaster County | 334,049 | ▲ 2.3% | 811 MW | 852 MW | 3 | 1 |
| Mills County IA | 14,793 | ▼ 12.8% | — | 50 MW | — | — |
| Otoe County | 16,531 | ▲ 0.2% | 1,433 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Sarpy County | 208,303 | ▲ 14.0% | 866 MW | 272 MW | 16 | — |
| Saunders County | 23,702 | ▲ 9.8% | 95 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Cass County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Cass County, Nebraska?
3 utilities have service territory in Cass County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Omaha Public Power District, Nebraska Public Power District, Village of Greenwood - (NE). The largest, Omaha Public Power District, charged residential customers 12.36¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Cass County?
2 operating plants with 346 MW of capacity. The largest is Cass County (345 MW, natural gas).
How much new power is planned in Cass County?
792 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Omaha Public Power District.
Are there data centers in Cass County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Cass County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Sarpy County.
Is Cass County adding jobs?
Employers counted 6,206 jobs in 2025 against 5,811 in 2019 (+6.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 342 to 621.
Does Cass County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Cass County, 1 in force.