Union County, New Mexico: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Clayton
No data center or power plant project is on record in Union County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Union County is home to Clayton. 190 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Gallegos Wind Farm LLC (wind), the 7th largest pipeline among New Mexico's counties. Next door, Las Animas County, Colorado, has 202 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 1,222 jobs in 2025, down 8.9% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Union County
Union County is home to Clayton.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Capulin.
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 Union County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in New Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 4,070 | 3,844 | ▼ 5.6% | 30th of 33 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,342 | 1,222 | ▼ 8.9% | 32nd of 33 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,419 | $48,276 | ▲ 32.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.0% | 3.4% | ▼ 0.6pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 190 MW | no fleet today | 7th of 14 by size |
Public Service Co of NM is the largest utility serving Union County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 15.57¢/kWh in 2024. 3,844 people live here, down 5.6% since 2020.
Who powers Union County
Utilities with service territory in Union County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Service Co of NM | Investor Owned | Bundled | 492,945 | 15.57¢ | 39% |
| Springer Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 2,453 | 19.01¢ | 10% |
| Southwestern Electric Coop Inc - (NM) | Cooperative | Bundled | 1,434 | 24.09¢ | 3% |
| Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (OK) | Cooperative | Bundled | 3 | 38.00¢ | 62% |
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 Union County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallegos Wind Farm, Phase 1 | Onshore Wind Turbine | 190 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2028 | Gallegos Wind Farm LLC |
The Union County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,222 | $48,276 | 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 Union County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Union County. New Mexico has 12 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Colfax County.
Union County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Union County, Las Animas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 3,844 | ▼ 8.9% | — | 190 MW | — | — |
| Baca County CO | 3,347 | ▲ 4.7% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Cimarron County OK | 2,059 | ▼ 16.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Colfax County | 12,184 | ▼ 6.6% | 44 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Dallam County TX | 7,508 | ▲ 6.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Harding County | 617 | ▲ 7.7% | — | — | — | — |
| Hartley County TX | 4,904 | ▲ 11.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Las Animas County CO | 14,391 | ▼ 7.6% | 179 MW | 202 MW | — | — |
| Quay County | 8,454 | ▼ 1.1% | 409 MW | — | — | — |
More of New Mexico
Union County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Union County, New Mexico?
4 utilities have service territory in Union County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Public Service Co of NM, Springer Electric Coop, Inc, Southwestern Electric Coop Inc - (NM), Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (OK). The largest, Public Service Co of NM, charged residential customers 15.57¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in Union County?
190 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Gallegos Wind Farm LLC.
Are there data centers in Union County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Union County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Las Animas County.
Is Union County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,222 jobs in 2025 against 1,342 in 2019 (-8.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Union County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Union County. New Mexico has 12 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.