Erie County, Ohio: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Sandusky, Perkins Township and Huron Township
The data center boom is not abstract in Erie County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Erie County. Erie County is home to Sandusky, Perkins Township, Huron Township and Huron. Unemployment was 3.5% in August 2026, against 4.9% in 2019. 125 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 127 MW of capacity, 98% of it solar.
Cities and towns in Erie County
Erie County is home to Sandusky, Perkins Township, Huron Township and Huron.
- Vermilion also extends into Lorain County.
- Milan also extends into Huron County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Beulah Beach, Birmingham, Bloomingville, Crystal Rock, Mitiwanga, Whites Landing.
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 Erie County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 75,471 | 73,296 | ▼ 2.9% | 35th of 88 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 36,615 | 36,374 | ▼ 0.7% | 53rd of 88 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,949 | $52,123 | ▲ 30.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.9% | 3.5% | ▼ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 125 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Electrical contractors employ 311, at an average $93,180 a year. Ohio Edison Co is the largest utility serving Erie County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 16.18¢/kWh in 2024, above the 15.40¢ median for Ohio utilities. Employers here counted 36,374 jobs in 2025, down 0.7% from 2019. 73,296 people live here, down 2.9% since 2020.
Who powers Erie County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +125 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Erie County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Edison Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 957,780 | 16.18¢ | 18% |
| Lorain-Medina R E C, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 15,234 | 17.26¢ | 14% |
| Hancock-Wood Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 11,307 | 17.05¢ | 29% |
| Village of Milan - (OH) | — | — | — | — | — |
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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 125 MW | 98% |
| Other technologies | 2 MW | 2% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheatsborough Solar | Wheatsborough Solar, LLC | Solar | 125 MW | 2025 |
| North American - Erie Generating Station | North American -- Erie, LLC | Other technologies | 2 MW | 2010 |
The Erie County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 36,374 | $52,123 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 311 | $93,180 | 1.19 |
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 Erie County
3 data centers in Erie County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Erie County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Erie County, Huron 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie County | 73,296 | ▼ 0.7% | 127 MW | — | 3 | — |
| Huron County | 58,250 | ▲ 0.1% | 6 MW | 297 MW | 1 | — |
| Lorain County | 323,219 | ▲ 0.8% | 577 MW | — | — | — |
| Ottawa County | 39,481 | ▲ 3.1% | 931 MW | — | — | — |
| Sandusky County | 58,655 | ▼ 4.4% | 760 MW | — | — | — |
More of Ohio
Erie County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Erie County, Ohio?
4 utilities have service territory in Erie County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Ohio Edison Co, Lorain-Medina R E C, Inc, Hancock-Wood Electric Coop Inc, Village of Milan - (OH). The largest, Ohio Edison Co, charged residential customers 16.18¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Sandusky, OH in?
Sandusky is in Erie County, Ohio. About 24,001 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Perkins Township, OH in?
Perkins Township is in Erie County, Ohio. About 12,302 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Huron Township, OH in?
Huron Township is in Erie County, Ohio. About 10,438 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Erie County?
2 operating plants with 127 MW of capacity. The largest is Wheatsborough Solar (125 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Erie County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 3 data centers in Erie County.
Is Erie County adding jobs?
Employers counted 36,374 jobs in 2025 against 36,615 in 2019 (-0.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Erie County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Erie County. Ohio has 105 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.