Allendale County, South Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Allendale and Fairfax
The data center boom is not abstract in Allendale County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Allendale County. Allendale County is home to Allendale and Fairfax. 50 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Quest Solar (solar). Unemployment was 6.5% in August 2026, against 4.9% in 2019. Employers here counted 2,504 jobs in 2025, down 8.0% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Allendale County
Allendale County is home to Allendale and Fairfax.
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 Allendale County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,940 | 7,355 | ▼ 7.4% | 46th of 46 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 2,722 | 2,504 | ▼ 8.0% | 40th of 46 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $43,721 | $57,254 | ▲ 31.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.9% | 6.5% | ▲ 1.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 70 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 50 MW | 41% of today's fleet | 13th of 16 by size |
70 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 121 MW of capacity, 81% of it solar. Palmetto Electric Coop Inc is the largest utility serving Allendale County, one of 2 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.79¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.59¢ median for South Carolina utilities. 7,355 people live here, down 7.4% since 2020.
Who powers Allendale County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +70 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Allendale County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmetto Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 68,338 | 12.79¢ | 30% |
| Edisto Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 15,421 | 16.40¢ | 15% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 99 MW | 81% |
| Other technologies | 22 MW | 19% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily Solar | X-Elio North America Inc | Solar | 70 MW | 2020 |
| Allendale Biomass | Allendale Biomass LLC | Other technologies | 22 MW | 2013 |
| Estill Solar II | Cypress Creek Renewables | Solar | 10 MW | 2017 |
| Southern Current One, LLC | SunStrong Management | Solar | 10 MW | 2017 |
| Haley Solar | SunStrong Management | Solar | 8 MW | 2017 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 50 MW | Approvals received | 2028 | Quest Solar |
The Allendale County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,504 | $57,254 | 1.00 |
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 Allendale County
1 data center in Allendale County is on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Allendale County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Allendale County, Burke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale County | 7,355 | ▼ 8.0% | 121 MW | 50 MW | 1 | — |
| Bamberg County | 12,796 | ▼ 2.9% | 6 MW | — | — | — |
| Barnwell County | 20,653 | ▼ 12.1% | 41 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Burke County GA | 24,408 | ▼ 46.9% | 5,166 MW | 76 MW | — | — |
| Colleton County | 39,382 | ▼ 5.7% | 2 MW | 75 MW | — | 3 |
| Hampton County | 18,174 | ▼ 0.3% | 49 MW | — | — | — |
| Screven County GA | 14,408 | ▼ 7.3% | — | — | — | — |
More of South Carolina
Allendale County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Allendale County, South Carolina?
2 utilities have service territory in Allendale County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Palmetto Electric Coop Inc, Edisto Electric Coop, Inc. The largest, Palmetto Electric Coop Inc, charged residential customers 12.79¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Allendale County?
5 operating plants with 121 MW of capacity. The largest is Lily Solar (70 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Allendale County?
50 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Quest Solar.
Are there data centers in Allendale County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 1 data center in Allendale County.
Is Allendale County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,504 jobs in 2025 against 2,722 in 2019 (-8.0%, BLS QCEW).
Does Allendale County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Allendale County. South Carolina has 22 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.