Stokes County, North Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to King and Walnut Cove
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Stokes County. Stokes County is home to most of King (7,330 of its 7,977 residents) and Walnut Cove. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (0 in force); the latest is “Rejected six-month data center moratorium”. Construction employs 427, down 37.2% since 2019. 1 project is on the Delay Watchlist, including Project Delta. 34 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Bear Branch Solar LLC (solar). 34 MW of it is already under construction or built.
Cities and towns in Stokes County
Stokes County is home to most of King (7,330 of its 7,977 residents) and Walnut Cove.
- King also extends into Forsyth County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Germanton, Pinnacle.
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 Stokes County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 44,565 | 46,126 | ▲ 3.5% | 55th of 100 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,626 | 7,553 | ▼ 1.0% | 67th of 100 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,134 | $42,158 | ▲ 27.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 680 | 427 | ▼ 37.2% | 60th of 60 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 3.4% | ▼ 0.3pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 60 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 34 MW | 1% of today's fleet | 22nd of 30 by size |
Its power plants have 2,555 MW of capacity, 97% of it natural gas, the 4th largest fleet in North Carolina. 60 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Electrical contractors employ 66, at an average $56,956 a year. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is the largest utility serving Stokes County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.94¢/kWh in 2024, above the 13.11¢ median for North Carolina utilities. Employers here counted 7,553 jobs in 2025, down 1.0% from 2019. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019. 46,126 people live here, up 3.5% since 2020.
Who powers Stokes County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +60 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Stokes County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,919,372 | 13.94¢ | 42% |
| EnergyUnited Elec Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 121,995 | 11.54¢ | 23% |
| Surry-Yadkin Elec Member Corp | Cooperative | Bundled | 28,080 | 16.06¢ | 6% |
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 5
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 2,491 MW | 97% |
| Solar | 59 MW | 2% |
| Battery storage | 5 MW | 0% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belews Creek | Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | Natural gas | 2,491 MW | 1974 |
| Lick Creek Solar, LLC | SunStrong Management | Solar | 50 MW | 2022 |
| Double Creek | North Carolina El Member Corp | Battery storage | 5 MW | 2024 |
| Pilot Mountain Solar, LLC | USF Essex Lessor, LLC | Solar | 5 MW | 2020 |
| Carol Jean Solar | Cypress Creek Renewables | Solar | 4 MW | 2016 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Branch Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 34 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2027 | Bear Branch Solar LLC |
The Stokes County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 7,553 | $42,158 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 427 | $56,771 | 1.07 |
| Electrical contractors | 66 | $56,956 | 1.21 |
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 Stokes County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rejected six-month data center moratorium | Failed / vetoed | 2026-07 |
Delay Watchlist 1
| Project | Status | Cause | MW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Delta | cancelled | — |
Stokes County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Stokes County, Rockingham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stokes County | 46,126 | ▼ 1.0% | 2,555 MW | 34 MW | — | 1 |
| Forsyth County | 401,718 | ▼ 0.4% | 21 MW | — | 2 | 2 |
| Guilford County | 562,234 | ▲ 2.3% | 44 MW | 40 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Henry County VA | 49,242 | ▼ 4.0% | 156 MW | 201 MW | — | — |
| Patrick County VA | 17,424 | ▼ 8.7% | 12 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Rockingham County | 94,195 | ▼ 4.4% | 1,718 MW | — | — | — |
| Surry County | 72,287 | ▼ 0.8% | 92 MW | — | — | 1 |
More of North Carolina
Stokes County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Stokes County, North Carolina?
3 utilities have service territory in Stokes County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, EnergyUnited Elec Member Corp, Surry-Yadkin Elec Member Corp. The largest, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, charged residential customers 13.94¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Stokes County?
5 operating plants with 2,555 MW of capacity. The largest is Belews Creek (2,491 MW, natural gas).
How much new power is planned in Stokes County?
34 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 34 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Bear Branch Solar LLC.
Are there data centers in Stokes County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Stokes County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Henry County.
Is Stokes County adding jobs?
Employers counted 7,553 jobs in 2025 against 7,626 in 2019 (-1.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 680 to 427.
Does Stokes County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Stokes County, 0 in force.