Sarpy County, Nebraska: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bellevue, Papillion and La Vista
The data center boom is not abstract in Sarpy County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 16 data centers in Sarpy County, 41% of Nebraska's total. Sarpy County is home to Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista and Gretna. Construction employs 9,477, up 25.7% since 2019, and construction is 2.1 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. 272 MW of new generation is planned here across 4 units, led by Omaha Public Power District (natural gas), the 3rd largest pipeline among Nebraska's counties. 8 MW of it is already under construction or built. Employers here counted 83,436 jobs in 2025, up 14.0% from 2019 (the 4th fastest growth of 93 Nebraska counties).
Cities and towns in Sarpy County
Sarpy County is home to Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista and Gretna.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Beacon View, Chalco, La Platte, Linoma Beach, Melia, Offutt AFB, Richfield.
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 Sarpy County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 191,179 | 208,303 | ▲ 9.0% | 3rd of 93 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 73,183 | 83,436 | ▲ 14.0% | 4th of 93 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $48,742 | $60,316 | ▲ 23.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,541 | 9,477 | ▲ 25.7% | 11th of 35 by growth |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 161 | 277 | ▲ 72.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 2.6% | ▼ 0.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 528 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 2 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 272 MW | 31% of today's fleet | 3rd of 8 by size |
528 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly natural gas. 2 MW has retired here since 2019, including Papillion Creek Wastewater (other technologies, 2 MW, 2026). Its power plants have 866 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas, the 4th largest fleet in Nebraska. Electrical contractors employ 1,018, at an average $71,001 a year. 208,303 people live here, up 9.0% since 2020, 3rd of 93 Nebraska counties by population. Omaha Public Power District is the largest utility serving Sarpy County. Its residential customers paid an average 12.36¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.86¢ median for Nebraska utilities. Unemployment was 2.6% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019.
Who powers Sarpy County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +526 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Sarpy 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% |
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 | 863 MW | 100% |
| Petroleum | 4 MW | 0% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Creek | Omaha Public Power District | Natural gas | 528 MW | 2025 |
| Sarpy County | Omaha Public Power District | Natural gas | 338 MW | 1972 |
Planned generation 4
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Creek | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | 264 MW | Approvals received | 2028 | Omaha Public Power District |
| Papillion Creek Wastewater | Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine | 2 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | City of Omaha - (NE) |
| Papillion Creek Wastewater | Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine | 2 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | City of Omaha - (NE) |
| Papillion Creek Wastewater | Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine | 2 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | City of Omaha - (NE) |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papillion Creek Wastewater | Other technologies | 2 MW | 2026 |
The Sarpy County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 83,436 | $60,316 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 9,477 | $75,324 | 2.14 |
| Electrical contractors | 1,018 | $71,001 | 1.69 |
| Power and communication line construction | 277 | $76,962 | 2.06 |
| Data processing and hosting | 68 | $88,301 | 0.26 |
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 Sarpy County
16 data centers in Sarpy County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Sarpy County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Sarpy County, Douglas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarpy County | 208,303 | ▲ 14.0% | 866 MW | 272 MW | 16 | — |
| Cass County | 27,657 | ▲ 6.8% | 346 MW | 792 MW | — | 1 |
| Douglas County | 606,460 | ● 0.0% | 941 MW | — | 16 | — |
| Mills County IA | 14,793 | ▼ 12.8% | — | 50 MW | — | — |
| Pottawattamie County IA | 92,996 | ▲ 3.9% | 1,814 MW | — | 8 | — |
| Saunders County | 23,702 | ▲ 9.8% | 95 MW | — | — | — |
More of Nebraska
Sarpy County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Sarpy County, Nebraska?
1 utility has service territory in Sarpy County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Omaha Public Power District. The largest, Omaha Public Power District, charged residential customers 12.36¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Bellevue, NE in?
Bellevue is in Sarpy County, Nebraska. About 64,863 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Papillion, NE in?
Papillion is in Sarpy County, Nebraska. About 25,127 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is La Vista, NE in?
La Vista is in Sarpy County, Nebraska. About 16,543 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Sarpy County?
2 operating plants with 866 MW of capacity. The largest is Turtle Creek (528 MW, natural gas).
How much new power is planned in Sarpy County?
272 MW across 4 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 8 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Omaha Public Power District.
Are there data centers in Sarpy County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 16 data centers in Sarpy County.
Is Sarpy County adding jobs?
Employers counted 83,436 jobs in 2025 against 73,183 in 2019 (+14.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 7,541 to 9,477.
Does Sarpy County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Sarpy County. Nebraska has 23 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.