Yates County, New York: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Milo, Penn Yan and Jerusalem
Yates County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Yates County. Yates County is home to Milo, Penn Yan, Jerusalem and Starkey. 24 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 2.9% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019. Its power plants have 136 MW of capacity, 83% of it natural gas.
Cities and towns in Yates County
Yates County is home to Milo, Penn Yan, Jerusalem and Starkey.
- Rushville also extends into Ontario County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Keuka Park.
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 Yates County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in New York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 24,735 | 24,547 | ▼ 0.8% | 60th of 62 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,165 | 7,296 | ▲ 1.8% | 18th of 62 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $36,253 | $52,165 | ▲ 43.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 2.9% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 24 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Employers here counted 7,296 jobs in 2025, up 1.8% from 2019. New York State Elec & Gas Corp is the largest utility serving Yates County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 18.32¢/kWh in 2024, above the 17.22¢ median for New York utilities. 24,547 people live here, down 0.8% since 2020.
Who powers Yates County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +24 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Yates 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% |
| Village of Penn Yan - (NY) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 6
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 112 MW | 83% |
| Solar | 24 MW | 17% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenidge Generation LLC | Greenidge Generation Holdings LLC | Natural gas | 112 MW | 1953 |
| NSF Torrey Site 2 | NSF Torrey Site 2, LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2023 |
| NSF Torrey Site 3 | NSF Torrey Site 3, LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2023 |
| State Route 14A Solar | Generate Capital | Solar | 5 MW | 2021 |
| NSF Torrey Site 1 | NSF Torrey Site 1, LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2023 |
| Daum Solar | Altus Power America Management, LLC | Solar | 4 MW | 2020 |
The Yates County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,296 | $52,165 | 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 Yates County
2 data centers in Yates County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Yates County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Yates County, Steuben 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yates County | 24,547 | ▲ 1.8% | 136 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Ontario County | 113,130 | ▲ 1.7% | 81 MW | 20 MW | — | — |
| Schuyler County | 16,924 | ▲ 5.6% | 29 MW | 10 MW | — | — |
| Seneca County | 32,883 | ▼ 16.9% | 40 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Steuben County | 91,855 | ▼ 7.0% | 568 MW | 26 MW | — | — |
More of New York
Yates County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Yates County, New York?
2 utilities have service territory in Yates County in the EIA-861 2024 report: New York State Elec & Gas Corp, Village of Penn Yan - (NY). The largest, New York State Elec & Gas Corp, charged residential customers 18.32¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Yates County?
6 operating plants with 136 MW of capacity. The largest is Greenidge Generation LLC (112 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Yates County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Yates County.
Is Yates County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,296 jobs in 2025 against 7,165 in 2019 (+1.8%, BLS QCEW).
Does Yates County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Yates County. New York has 35 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.