Esmeralda County, Nevada: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Dyer and Goldfield
Esmeralda County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Esmeralda County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Dyer, Goldfield, Silver Peak, are unincorporated and governed by the county. 26 MW of new generation is planned here across 5 units, led by Fish Lake Geothermal LLC (other technologies), the 5th largest pipeline among Nevada's counties. Next door, Inyo County, California, has 1,000 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 272 jobs in 2025, down 5.9% from 2019. Sierra Pacific Power Co is the largest utility serving Esmeralda 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.
Cities and towns in Esmeralda County
Esmeralda County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Dyer, Goldfield, Silver Peak, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Dyer, Goldfield, Silver Peak.
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 Esmeralda County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nevada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 735 | 729 | ▼ 0.8% | 17th of 17 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 289 | 272 | ▼ 5.9% | 16th of 17 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $50,686 | $63,130 | ▲ 24.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.7% | 5.3% | ▼ 0.4pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 26 MW | no fleet today | 5th of 7 by size |
Unemployment was 5.3% in August 2026, against 5.7% in 2019. 729 people live here, down 0.8% since 2020.
Who powers Esmeralda County
Utilities with service territory in Esmeralda 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% |
| Valley Electric Assn, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 22,368 | 16.73¢ | 40% |
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 Esmeralda County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 5
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Lake Geothermal | Geothermal | 9 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Fish Lake Geothermal LLC |
| Fish Lake Geothermal | Geothermal | 6 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Fish Lake Geothermal LLC |
| Fish Lake Geothermal | Geothermal | 5 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Fish Lake Geothermal LLC |
| Fish Lake Geothermal | Geothermal | 3 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Fish Lake Geothermal LLC |
| Fish Lake Geothermal | Geothermal | 3 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Fish Lake Geothermal LLC |
The Esmeralda County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 272 | $63,130 | 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 Esmeralda County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Esmeralda County. Nevada has 11 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Nye County.
Esmeralda County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Esmeralda County, Inyo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esmeralda County | 729 | ▼ 5.9% | — | 26 MW | — | — |
| Inyo County CA | 18,158 | ▼ 0.6% | 465 MW | 1,000 MW | — | — |
| Mineral County | 4,407 | ▼ 35.3% | 90 MW | — | — | — |
| Mono County CA | 12,505 | ▲ 8.5% | 187 MW | — | — | — |
| Nye County | 57,336 | ▲ 9.7% | 242 MW | — | — | 2 |
More of Nevada
Esmeralda County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Esmeralda County, Nevada?
2 utilities have service territory in Esmeralda County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Sierra Pacific Power Co, Valley Electric Assn, Inc. The largest, Sierra Pacific Power Co, charged residential customers 14.52¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Esmeralda County?
26 MW across 5 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Fish Lake Geothermal LLC.
Are there data centers in Esmeralda County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Esmeralda County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Inyo County.
Is Esmeralda County adding jobs?
Employers counted 272 jobs in 2025 against 289 in 2019 (-5.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Esmeralda County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Esmeralda County. Nevada has 11 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.