Seneca County, New York: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Seneca Falls and Waterloo, and the communities of Romulus
Seneca County sits inside the data center build-out. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Seneca County. Seneca County is home to Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Fayette and Romulus, plus the unincorporated community of Romulus. Employers here counted 10,339 jobs in 2025, down 16.9% from 2019. 16 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Owners plan to retire 8 MW more by 2035, led by Seneca Energy in 2027.
Cities and towns in Seneca County
Seneca County is home to Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Fayette and Romulus, plus the unincorporated community of Romulus.
- Geneva also extends into Ontario County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Romulus, Seneca Falls.
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 Seneca County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 33,445 | 32,883 | ▼ 1.7% | 57th of 62 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 12,439 | 10,339 | ▼ 16.9% | 62nd of 62 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $49,971 | $63,466 | ▲ 27.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 3.7% | ▼ 0.1pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 16 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 40 MW of capacity, 44% of it other technologies. New York State Elec & Gas Corp is the largest utility serving Seneca County. Its residential customers paid an average 18.32¢/kWh in 2024, above the 17.22¢ median for New York utilities. Unemployment was 3.7% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019. 32,883 people live here, down 1.7% since 2020.
Who powers Seneca County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +16 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Seneca County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 8
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 18 MW | 44% |
| Solar | 16 MW | 40% |
| Hydro | 7 MW | 16% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Energy | Seneca Energy II | Other technologies | 18 MW | 1996 |
| Seneca Falls Hydroelectric Project | C-S Canal Hydro, LLC | Hydro | 5 MW | 1917 |
| Canoga Solar | Generate Capital | Solar | 5 MW | 2021 |
| Halsey Lane Solar Community Solar | NY Lodi I, LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2025 |
| Donati Solar | Generate Capital | Solar | 2 MW | 2021 |
| Sangolqui Solar | Generate Capital | Solar | 2 MW | 2021 |
Scheduled to retire
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Energy | Other technologies | 8 MW | 2027 |
The Seneca County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 10,339 | $63,466 | 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 Seneca County
2 data centers in Seneca County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Seneca County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Seneca County, Tompkins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca County | 32,883 | ▼ 16.9% | 40 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Cayuga County | 74,365 | ▼ 3.9% | 51 MW | 137 MW | — | — |
| Ontario County | 113,130 | ▲ 1.7% | 81 MW | 20 MW | — | — |
| Schuyler County | 16,924 | ▲ 5.6% | 29 MW | 10 MW | — | — |
| Tompkins County | 104,047 | ▼ 4.0% | 118 MW | 160 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Wayne County | 91,250 | ▼ 0.6% | 635 MW | 5 MW | — | — |
| Yates County | 24,547 | ▲ 1.8% | 136 MW | — | 2 | — |
More of New York
Seneca County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Seneca County, New York?
1 utility has service territory in Seneca County in the EIA-861 2024 report: New York State Elec & Gas Corp. The largest, New York State Elec & Gas Corp, charged residential customers 18.32¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Seneca County?
8 operating plants with 40 MW of capacity. The largest is Seneca Energy (18 MW, other technologies).
Are there data centers in Seneca County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Seneca County.
Is Seneca County adding jobs?
Employers counted 10,339 jobs in 2025 against 12,439 in 2019 (-16.9%, BLS QCEW).
Does Seneca County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Seneca County. New York has 35 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.