Chesterfield County, South Carolina: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Cheraw, Pageland and Chesterfield
Local rules on data centers are on the record in Chesterfield County. Chesterfield County is home to Cheraw, Pageland, Chesterfield and McBee. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “County moratorium on data centers through January 1, 2028”. 151 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (solar), the 6th largest pipeline among South Carolina's counties. Unemployment was 5.1% in August 2026, against 3.1% in 2019. Employers here counted 13,763 jobs in 2025, down 9.7% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County is home to Cheraw, Pageland, Chesterfield and McBee.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Cash.
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 Chesterfield County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 43,256 | 44,740 | ▲ 3.4% | 25th of 46 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 15,249 | 13,763 | ▼ 9.7% | 41st of 46 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $38,632 | $51,289 | ▲ 32.8% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.1% | 5.1% | ▲ 2.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 77 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 151 MW | 196% of today's fleet | 6th of 16 by size |
77 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 77 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Electrical contractors employ 26, at an average $58,015 a year. Duke Energy Progress - (NC) is the largest utility serving Chesterfield County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.88¢/kWh in 2024. 44,740 people live here, up 3.4% since 2020.
Who powers Chesterfield County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +77 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Chesterfield County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Progress - (NC) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 143,713 | 14.88¢ | 28% |
| MPD Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 31,874 | 10.94¢ | 27% |
| Lynches River Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 21,363 | 15.71¢ | 12% |
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 | 77 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerfield Cooper Solar, LLC | SunStrong Management | Solar | 75 MW | 2020 |
| Ogburn Solar, LLC | Ogburn Solar, LLC | Solar | 2 MW | 2022 |
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson Solar Plant | Solar Photovoltaic | 76 MW | Approvals pending | 2027 | Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC |
| Juniper Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 75 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | Juniper Solar |
The Chesterfield County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 13,763 | $51,289 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 26 | $58,015 | 0.26 |
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 Chesterfield County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County moratorium on data centers through January 1, 2028 | In force | 2026-06 |
Chesterfield County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Chesterfield County, Darlington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield County | 44,740 | ▼ 9.7% | 77 MW | 151 MW | — | 1 |
| Anson County NC | 21,758 | ▼ 9.4% | 576 MW | — | — | — |
| Darlington County | 62,888 | ▼ 3.9% | 1,162 MW | 425 MW | — | — |
| Kershaw County | 73,166 | ▲ 5.0% | 110 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Lancaster County | 114,296 | ▲ 12.0% | 48 MW | — | — | — |
| Marlboro County | 25,488 | ▼ 20.5% | 63 MW | — | — | — |
| Richmond County NC | 42,041 | ● 0.0% | 2,682 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Union County NC | 267,674 | ▲ 20.0% | 107 MW | 12 MW | 1 | — |
More of South Carolina
Chesterfield County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Chesterfield County, South Carolina?
3 utilities have service territory in Chesterfield County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Progress - (NC), MPD Electric Cooperative, Lynches River Elec Coop, Inc. The largest, Duke Energy Progress - (NC), charged residential customers 14.88¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Chesterfield County?
2 operating plants with 77 MW of capacity. The largest is Centerfield Cooper Solar, LLC (75 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Chesterfield County?
151 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC.
Are there data centers in Chesterfield County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Chesterfield County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Darlington County.
Is Chesterfield County adding jobs?
Employers counted 13,763 jobs in 2025 against 15,249 in 2019 (-9.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Chesterfield County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Chesterfield County, 1 in force.