Churchill County, Nevada: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Fallon
Churchill County is where a large share of Nevada's next power plants are planned. Churchill County is home to Fallon. Construction employs 939, up 22.9% since 2019, and construction is 2.0 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. 400 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Sierra Pacific Power Co (solar), the 4th largest pipeline among Nevada's counties. 400 MW of it is already under construction or built. 472 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly battery storage. Employers here counted 9,051 jobs in 2025, up 8.3% from 2019 (the 6th fastest growth of 17 Nevada counties).
Cities and towns in Churchill County
Churchill County is home to Fallon.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Fallon Station.
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 Churchill County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nevada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 25,570 | 25,851 | ▲ 1.1% | 8th of 17 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,359 | 9,051 | ▲ 8.3% | 6th of 17 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $48,014 | $64,713 | ▲ 34.8% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 764 | 939 | ▲ 22.9% | 3rd of 7 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.9% | 3.9% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 472 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 26 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 400 MW | 51% of today's fleet | 4th of 7 by size |
26 MW has retired here since 2019, including Soda Lake Geothermal No I II (other technologies, 26 MW, 2022). Its power plants have 778 MW of capacity, 51% of it battery storage, the 3rd largest fleet in Nevada. Sierra Pacific Power Co is the largest utility serving Churchill County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.52¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.69¢ median for Nevada utilities. Unemployment was 3.9% in August 2026, against 3.9% in 2019. 25,851 people live here, up 1.1% since 2020, 8th of 17 Nevada counties by population.
Who powers Churchill County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +446 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Churchill County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Pacific Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 330,891 | 14.52¢ | 42% |
| City of Fallon - (NV) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 11
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Battery storage | 400 MW | 51% |
| Other technologies | 300 MW | 39% |
| Solar | 73 MW | 9% |
| Hydro | 6 MW | 1% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Solar Hybrid | Sierra Pacific Power Co | Battery storage | 400 MW | 2026 |
| Tungsten Mountain | Tungsten Mountain | Other technologies | 75 MW | 2017 |
| Dixie Valley | Ormat Nevada Inc | Other technologies | 71 MW | 1988 |
| Stillwater Facility | Ormat Stillwater LLC | Other technologies | 69 MW | 2009 |
| Patua Acquisition Project, LLC | Patua Acquisition Company, LLC | Other technologies | 59 MW | 2013 |
| Brady | Ormat Nevada Inc | Other technologies | 30 MW | 2002 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Solar Hybrid | Solar Photovoltaic | 400 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | Sierra Pacific Power Co |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soda Lake Geothermal No I II | Other technologies | 26 MW | 2022 |
The Churchill County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 9,051 | $64,713 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 939 | $84,189 | 1.96 |
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 Churchill County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Churchill County. Nevada has 11 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Nye County.
Churchill County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Churchill County, Lyon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill County | 25,851 | ▲ 8.3% | 778 MW | 400 MW | — | — |
| Lander County | 5,872 | ▲ 4.1% | 238 MW | 14 MW | — | — |
| Lyon County | 65,088 | ▲ 8.1% | 282 MW | 1,400 MW | — | — |
| Mineral County | 4,407 | ▼ 35.3% | 90 MW | — | — | — |
| Nye County | 57,336 | ▲ 9.7% | 242 MW | — | — | 2 |
| Pershing County | 6,421 | ▲ 10.3% | 45 MW | — | — | — |
| Washoe County | 509,386 | ▲ 7.4% | 668 MW | — | 17 | — |
More of Nevada
Churchill County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Churchill County, Nevada?
2 utilities have service territory in Churchill County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Sierra Pacific Power Co, City of Fallon - (NV). The largest, Sierra Pacific Power Co, charged residential customers 14.52¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Churchill County?
11 operating plants with 778 MW of capacity. The largest is Sierra Solar Hybrid (400 MW, battery storage).
How much new power is planned in Churchill County?
400 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 400 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Sierra Pacific Power Co.
Are there data centers in Churchill County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Churchill County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lyon County.
Is Churchill County adding jobs?
Employers counted 9,051 jobs in 2025 against 8,359 in 2019 (+8.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 764 to 939.
Does Churchill County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Churchill County. Nevada has 11 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.