Wasco County, Oregon: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to The Dalles
New generation is lining up in Wasco County. 2,103 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by DECH bn, LLC (solar), the 2nd largest pipeline among Oregon's counties. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Wasco County, 3% of Oregon's total. Wasco County is home to The Dalles and Dufur. Construction employs 414, up 19.7% since 2019. Its power plants have 2,038 MW of capacity, 90% of it hydro, the 3rd largest fleet in Oregon.
Cities and towns in Wasco County
Wasco County is home to The Dalles and Dufur.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Chenoweth, Pine Grove, Pine Hollow, Rowena, Sportsmans Park, Tygh Valley, Wamic.
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 Wasco County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Oregon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 26,613 | 26,310 | ▼ 1.1% | 23rd of 36 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,767 | 11,532 | ▼ 2.0% | 32nd of 36 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,427 | $58,525 | ▲ 41.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 346 | 414 | ▲ 19.7% | 7th of 25 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 33 | 30 | ▼ 9.1% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.2% | 5.3% | ▲ 1.1pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 212 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 2,103 MW | 103% of today's fleet | 2nd of 11 by size |
212 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 5.3% in August 2026, against 4.2% in 2019. Employers here counted 11,532 jobs in 2025, down 2.0% from 2019. PacifiCorp is the largest utility serving Wasco County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.02¢/kWh in 2024, above the 11.02¢ median for Oregon utilities. Electrical contractors employ 30, down 9.1% since 2019 against up 12.8% statewide, at an average $90,150 a year. 26,310 people live here, down 1.1% since 2020.
Who powers Wasco County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +212 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Wasco County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PacifiCorp | Investor Owned | Bundled | 547,235 | 14.02¢ | 47% |
| Central Electric Coop Inc - (OR) | Cooperative | Bundled | 34,562 | 9.75¢ | 17% |
| Northern Wasco County PUD | Political Subdivision | Bundled | 9,800 | 7.72¢ | 8% |
| Bonneville Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 100% |
| Wasco Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
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 4
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 1,826 MW | 90% |
| Solar | 212 MW | 10% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dalles | USACE Northwestern Division | Hydro | 1,820 MW | 1957 |
| Daybreak Solar | Avangrid Power LLC | Solar | 152 MW | 2025 |
| Bakeoven Solar | Avangrid Power LLC | Solar | 60 MW | 2023 |
| Dalles Dam North Fishway Project | Northern Wasco County PUD - (OR) | Hydro | 6 MW | 1991 |
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deschutes Solar and BESS | Solar Photovoltaic | 1,000 MW | Approvals pending | 2029 | DECH bn, LLC |
| Deschutes Solar and BESS | Batteries | 1,000 MW | Approvals pending | 2029 | DECH bn, LLC |
| Sunset Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 103 MW | Approvals received | 2028 | Avangrid Power LLC |
The Wasco County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 11,532 | $58,525 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 414 | $68,999 | 0.68 |
| Electrical contractors | 30 | $90,150 | 0.36 |
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 Wasco County
4 data centers in Wasco County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Wasco County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Wasco County, Sherman 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco County | 26,310 | ▼ 2.0% | 2,038 MW | 2,103 MW | 4 | — |
| Clackamas County | 426,280 | ▲ 3.2% | 278 MW | — | 3 | 1 |
| Gilliam County | 1,971 | ▲ 3.0% | 1,884 MW | 82 MW | — | — |
| Hood River County | 23,720 | ▼ 3.7% | 8 MW | — | — | — |
| Jefferson County | 25,740 | ▲ 2.0% | 532 MW | 494 MW | — | — |
| Klickitat County WA | 24,331 | ▼ 4.3% | 1,708 MW | 300 MW | — | — |
| Marion County | 355,777 | ▲ 10.7% | 177 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Sherman County | 2,051 | ▼ 1.6% | 3,426 MW | 1,050 MW | — | — |
| Wheeler County | 1,472 | ▲ 11.7% | — | — | — | — |
More of Oregon
Wasco County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Wasco County, Oregon?
5 utilities have service territory in Wasco County in the EIA-861 2024 report: PacifiCorp, Central Electric Coop Inc - (OR), Northern Wasco County PUD, Bonneville Power Administration. The largest, PacifiCorp, charged residential customers 14.02¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is The Dalles, OR in?
The Dalles is in Wasco County, Oregon. About 15,745 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Wasco County?
4 operating plants with 2,038 MW of capacity. The largest is The Dalles (1,820 MW, hydro).
How much new power is planned in Wasco County?
2,103 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is DECH bn, LLC.
Are there data centers in Wasco County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Wasco County.
Is Wasco County adding jobs?
Employers counted 11,532 jobs in 2025 against 11,767 in 2019 (-2.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 346 to 414.
Does Wasco County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Wasco County. Oregon has 7 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.