Washington County, Pennsylvania: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Peters Township, North Strabane Township and Cecil Township
Washington County is where a large share of Pennsylvania's next power plants are planned. Washington County is home to Peters Township, North Strabane Township, Cecil Township and Washington. 12 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Rye Development (other technologies). Construction employs 7,040, down 3.3% since 2019, and construction is 1.5 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 4.5% in 2019. Its power plants have 5 MW of capacity, 100% of it other technologies.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Peters Township, North Strabane Township, Cecil Township and Washington.
And 16 smaller places.
- McDonald also extends into Allegheny County.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Aaronsburg, Atlasburg, Avella, Baidland, Bulger, Cecil-Bishop, Cross Creek, Eighty Four, Elrama, Fredericktown, Gastonville, Hendersonville, Hickory, Joffre, Langeloth, Lawrence, McGovern, McMurray, Meadowlands, Millsboro, Muse, Paris, Slovan, Southview, Taylorstown, Thompsonville, Van Voorhis, West Alexander, Westland, Wickerham Manor-Fisher, Wolfdale, Wylandville.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 209,413 | 210,802 | ▲ 0.7% | 18th of 67 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 88,389 | 89,399 | ▲ 1.1% | 20th of 67 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $58,434 | $73,598 | ▲ 26.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 7,277 | 7,040 | ▼ 3.3% | 45th of 62 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.5% | 3.8% | ▼ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 12 MW | 250% of today's fleet | 22nd of 31 by size |
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co is the largest utility serving Washington County. Its residential customers paid an average 17.37¢/kWh in 2024, above the 16.30¢ median for Pennsylvania utilities. Employers here counted 89,399 jobs in 2025, up 1.1% from 2019. 210,802 people live here, up 0.7% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington 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% |
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 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other technologies | 5 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Management Arden LFGTE | WM Renewable Energy LLC | Other technologies | 5 MW | 2009 |
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monongahela L&D4 Hydroelectric Project | Conventional Hydroelectric | 6 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2028 | Rye Development |
| Monongahela L&D4 Hydroelectric Project | Conventional Hydroelectric | 6 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2028 | Rye Development |
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 89,399 | $73,598 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 7,040 | $87,893 | 1.49 |
| Data processing and hosting | 80 | $320,959 | 0.29 |
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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Pennsylvania has 36 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Allegheny County.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 9 counties that border Washington County, Allegheny 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 210,802 | ▲ 1.1% | 5 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
| Allegheny County | 1,225,035 | ▼ 4.7% | 1,127 MW | 77 MW | 22 | 1 |
| Beaver County | 166,032 | ▼ 13.8% | 2,218 MW | 20 MW | — | — |
| Brooke County WV | 21,142 | ▼ 2.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Fayette County | 123,021 | ▼ 4.7% | 932 MW | 17 MW | — | — |
| Greene County | 33,885 | ▼ 9.2% | 665 MW | 12 MW | — | — |
| Hancock County WV | 27,729 | ▼ 8.0% | — | 28 MW | — | — |
| Marshall County WV | 29,159 | ▼ 14.0% | 1,748 MW | — | — | — |
| Ohio County WV | 40,496 | ▼ 4.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Westmoreland County | 349,324 | ▼ 3.8% | 1,166 MW | 4 MW | — | — |
More of Pennsylvania
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Pennsylvania?
1 utility has service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co. The largest, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co, charged residential customers 17.37¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Peters Township, PA in?
Peters Township is in Washington County, Pennsylvania. About 23,262 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is North Strabane Township, PA in?
North Strabane Township is in Washington County, Pennsylvania. About 17,433 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Cecil Township, PA in?
Cecil Township is in Washington County, Pennsylvania. About 15,190 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Washington County?
1 operating plant with 5 MW of capacity. The largest is Waste Management Arden LFGTE (5 MW, other technologies).
How much new power is planned in Washington County?
12 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Rye Development.
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Allegheny County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 89,399 jobs in 2025 against 88,389 in 2019 (+1.1%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 7,277 to 7,040.
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Pennsylvania has 36 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.