Niagara County, New York: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda and Lockport
Niagara County sits inside the data center build-out. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 6 data centers in Niagara County, 4% of New York's total. Niagara County is home to Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Lockport and Wheatfield. 333 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by Cypress Creek Renewables (solar), the 8th largest pipeline among New York's counties. Its power plants have 3,087 MW of capacity, 87% of it hydro, the 4th largest fleet in New York. 655 MW has retired here since 2019, including Somerset Operating Co LLC (coal, 655 MW, 2020).
Cities and towns in Niagara County
Niagara County is home to Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Lockport and Wheatfield.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Gasport, Newfane, Niagara University, Olcott, Ransomville, Rapids, Sanborn, South Lockport.
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 Niagara County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 212,118 | 208,912 | ▼ 1.5% | 18th of 62 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 72,701 | 68,617 | ▼ 5.6% | 56th of 62 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,748 | $58,588 | ▲ 33.9% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,138 | 2,920 | ▼ 6.9% | 41st of 55 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 481 | 300 | ▼ 37.6% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.7% | 4.7% | ● 0.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 66 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 655 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 333 MW | 11% of today's fleet | 8th of 43 by size |
Construction employs 2,920, down 6.9% since 2019. 66 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Employers here counted 68,617 jobs in 2025, down 5.6% from 2019. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. is the largest utility serving Niagara County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.22¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 4.7% in August 2026, against 4.7% in 2019. 208,912 people live here, down 1.5% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 300, down 37.6% since 2019 against down 6.8% statewide, at an average $66,582 a year.
Who powers Niagara County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: −589 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Niagara County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,532,294 | 17.22¢ | 24% |
| New York State Elec & Gas Corp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 792,300 | 18.32¢ | 23% |
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 22
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 2,672 MW | 87% |
| Natural gas | 287 MW | 9% |
| Solar | 66 MW | 2% |
| Other technologies | 62 MW | 2% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Moses Niagara | New York Power Authority | Hydro | 2,429 MW | 1961 |
| Lewiston Niagara | New York Power Authority | Hydro | 240 MW | 1961 |
| Lockport Energy Associates LP | Lockport Energy Associates LP | Natural gas | 221 MW | 1992 |
| World Generation X | North American Energy Services | Natural gas | 66 MW | 1993 |
| Reworld Niagara I | Reworld Niagara I, LLC | Other technologies | 50 MW | 1980 |
| Slayton Settlement Road Solar CSG | RPNY Solar 3, LLC | Solar | 7 MW | 2024 |
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxbow Hill | Solar Photovoltaic | 140 MW | Approvals pending | 2029 | Cypress Creek Renewables |
| Somerset Solar LLC | Solar Photovoltaic | 100 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2029 | AES Clean Energy |
| Bear Ridge | Solar Photovoltaic | 93 MW | Approvals pending | 2028 | Cypress Creek Renewables |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset Operating Co LLC | Coal | 655 MW | 2020 |
The Niagara County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 68,617 | $58,588 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 2,920 | $68,884 | 0.80 |
| Electrical contractors | 300 | $66,582 | 0.61 |
| Power and communication line construction | 56 | $91,385 | 0.51 |
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 Niagara County
6 data centers in Niagara County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Niagara County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Niagara County, Genesee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara County | 208,912 | ▼ 5.6% | 3,087 MW | 333 MW | 6 | — |
| Erie County | 946,741 | ▼ 1.4% | 212 MW | 24 MW | 12 | — |
| Genesee County | 58,416 | ▼ 0.9% | 148 MW | 861 MW | — | — |
| Orleans County | 39,825 | ▼ 5.5% | 39 MW | 136 MW | — | — |
More of New York
Niagara County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Niagara County, New York?
2 utilities have service territory in Niagara County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., New York State Elec & Gas Corp. The largest, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., charged residential customers 17.22¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Niagara Falls, NY in?
Niagara Falls is in Niagara County, New York. About 47,255 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is North Tonawanda, NY in?
North Tonawanda is in Niagara County, New York. About 29,806 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Lockport, NY in?
Lockport is in Niagara County, New York. About 20,248 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Niagara County?
22 operating plants with 3,087 MW of capacity. The largest is Robert Moses Niagara (2,429 MW, hydro).
How much new power is planned in Niagara County?
333 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Cypress Creek Renewables.
Are there data centers in Niagara County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 6 data centers in Niagara County.
Is Niagara County adding jobs?
Employers counted 68,617 jobs in 2025 against 72,701 in 2019 (-5.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 3,138 to 2,920.
Does Niagara County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Niagara County. New York has 35 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.