Pershing County, Nevada: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Lovelock
Pershing 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. Pershing County is home to Lovelock. Next door, Washoe County has 17 data centers. Employers here counted 2,108 jobs in 2025, up 10.3% from 2019 (the 3rd fastest growth of 17 Nevada counties). Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019. 22 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly other technologies.
Cities and towns in Pershing County
Pershing County is home to Lovelock.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Grass Valley, Humboldt River Ranch, Imlay, Unionville.
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 Pershing County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Nevada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,635 | 6,421 | ▼ 3.2% | 11th of 17 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,911 | 2,108 | ▲ 10.3% | 3rd of 17 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $58,353 | $87,152 | ▲ 49.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 3.4% | ▼ 1.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 22 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 45 MW of capacity, 100% of it other technologies. Sierra Pacific Power Co is the largest utility serving Pershing County. Its residential customers paid an average 14.52¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.69¢ median for Nevada utilities. 6,421 people live here, down 3.2% since 2020.
Who powers Pershing County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +22 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Pershing 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% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 45 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Valley Geothermal Power Plant | Ormat Nevada Inc | Other technologies | 24 MW | 2010 |
| Star Peak Geothermal Plant | Star Peak Geothermal LLC. | Other technologies | 22 MW | 2022 |
The Pershing County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,108 | $87,152 | 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 Pershing County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Pershing County. Nevada has 11 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Humboldt County.
Pershing County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Pershing County, Washoe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pershing County | 6,421 | ▲ 10.3% | 45 MW | — | — | — |
| Churchill County | 25,851 | ▲ 8.3% | 778 MW | 400 MW | — | — |
| Humboldt County | 17,267 | ▲ 2.5% | 738 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Lander County | 5,872 | ▲ 4.1% | 238 MW | 14 MW | — | — |
| Washoe County | 509,386 | ▲ 7.4% | 668 MW | — | 17 | — |
More of Nevada
Pershing County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Pershing County, Nevada?
1 utility has service territory in Pershing County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Sierra Pacific Power Co. The largest, Sierra Pacific Power Co, charged residential customers 14.52¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Pershing County?
2 operating plants with 45 MW of capacity. The largest is Jersey Valley Geothermal Power Plant (24 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Pershing County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Pershing County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Washoe County.
Is Pershing County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,108 jobs in 2025 against 1,911 in 2019 (+10.3%, BLS QCEW).
Does Pershing County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Pershing County. Nevada has 11 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.