McKean County, Pennsylvania: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Bradford, Bradford Township and Foster Township
No data center or power plant project is on record in McKean County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. McKean County is home to Bradford, Bradford Township, Foster Township and Kane. 123 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Clermont Solar, LLC (solar), the 6th largest pipeline among Pennsylvania's counties. 123 MW of it is already under construction or built. Next door, Allegany County, New York, has 455 MW of planned generation. Construction employs 521, down 4.9% since 2019. Employers here counted 13,771 jobs in 2025, down 5.8% from 2019.
Cities and towns in McKean County
McKean County is home to Bradford, Bradford Township, Foster Township and Kane.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Foster Brook, Rew, University of Pittsburgh Bradford.
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 McKean County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 40,405 | 38,984 | ▼ 3.5% | 53rd of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 14,621 | 13,771 | ▼ 5.8% | 53rd of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $41,713 | $51,959 | ▲ 24.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 548 | 521 | ▼ 4.9% | 48th of 62 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 123 | 101 | ▼ 17.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.1% | 4.3% | ▼ 0.8pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 123 MW | no fleet today | 6th of 31 by size |
Unemployment was 4.3% in August 2026, against 5.1% in 2019. FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co is the largest utility serving McKean County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 17.37¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.30¢ median for Pennsylvania utilities. 38,984 people live here, down 3.5% since 2020. Electrical contractors employ 101, down 17.9% since 2019 against up 5.3% statewide, at an average $79,876 a year.
Who powers McKean County
Utilities with service territory in McKean County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 1,802,612 | 17.37¢ | 16% |
| Tri-County Rural Elec Coop Inc (PA) | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,206 | 20.08¢ | 27% |
| Borough of Smethport - (PA) | — | — | — | — | — |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
No operating power plant is located in McKean County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clermont Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 120 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2026 | Clermont Solar, LLC |
| Wetmore - PA 0187 (Chittester) | Solar Photovoltaic | 3 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | CVE US PA Kane 187 LLC |
The McKean County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 13,771 | $51,959 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 521 | $63,675 | 0.71 |
| Electrical contractors | 101 | $79,876 | 1.02 |
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 McKean County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in McKean County. Pennsylvania has 36 local measures on record statewide.
McKean County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border McKean County, Allegany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKean County | 38,984 | ▼ 5.8% | — | 123 MW | — | — |
| Allegany County NY | 46,800 | ▲ 3.2% | 127 MW | 455 MW | — | — |
| Cameron County | 4,211 | ▼ 23.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Cattaraugus County NY | 75,390 | ▼ 3.0% | 140 MW | — | — | — |
| Elk County | 29,926 | ▼ 10.4% | 54 MW | 6 MW | — | — |
| Potter County | 15,897 | ▼ 12.4% | 125 MW | 4 MW | — | — |
| Warren County | 37,038 | ▼ 10.1% | 491 MW | — | — | — |
More of Pennsylvania
McKean County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in McKean County, Pennsylvania?
3 utilities have service territory in McKean County in the EIA-861 2024 report: FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co, Tri-County Rural Elec Coop Inc (PA), Borough of Smethport - (PA). The largest, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co, charged residential customers 17.37¢/kWh on average in 2024.
How much new power is planned in McKean County?
123 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 123 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Clermont Solar, LLC.
Are there data centers in McKean County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in McKean County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Allegany County.
Is McKean County adding jobs?
Employers counted 13,771 jobs in 2025 against 14,621 in 2019 (-5.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 548 to 521.
Does McKean County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for McKean County. Pennsylvania has 36 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.