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Tennessee · County record

Roane County, Tennessee: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy

Home to Kingston, Harriman and Rockwood

Seal of Tennessee

New generation is lining up in Roane County. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Roane County. 1,831 MW of new generation is planned here across 18 units, led by Tennessee Valley Authority (natural gas), the largest pipeline among Tennessee's counties. Owners plan to retire 1,700 MW more by 2035, led by Kingston in 2027. Roane County is home to Kingston, Harriman, Rockwood and part of Oak Ridge (5,095 of its 35,395 residents). The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Roane County data center moratorium”.

Rebuilt 2026-10-08 · refreshed weekly
2
data centers on the SAVRN Data Center Map
1,831 MW
of new generation planned here, natural gas leading
1,700 MW
of operating power plants, mostly coal
Population, 2025
57,395
▲ 6.9% since 2020
Jobs, 2025
19,834
▲ 4.0% since 2019
Unemployment
3.6%
▼ 0.4 pts vs 20192019: 4.0%2024: 3.7%August 2026: 3.6%
Power plants
1,700 MW
1 plant operating
Planned generation
1,831 MW
18 units
Data centers
2
SAVRN Data Center Map
Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Roane County

Roane County is home to Kingston, Harriman, Rockwood and part of Oak Ridge (5,095 of its 35,395 residents).

Kingston6,299 residents
Harriman6,192 residents
Rockwood5,607 residents
Oak Ridge5,095 residents · 14% of the city
Oliver Springs955 residents · 28% of the city

Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Midtown.

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.

Then and now

What changed in Roane County

Where Roane County ranks in Tennessee
Population57,39530th of 95
Job growth since 2019+4.0%52nd of 95
Operating power plants1,700 MW6th of 51
Planned generation1,831 MW1st of 12

1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.

MeasureThenNowChangeRank in Tennessee
Population (2020 → 2025)53,66657,395▲ 6.9%30th of 95 by size
Total jobs (2019 → 2025)19,06819,834▲ 4.0%52nd of 95 by growth
Average annual pay (2019 → 2025)$67,795$88,476▲ 30.5%—
Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026)4.0%3.6%▼ 0.4pts—
Generating capacity added since 2019—0 MW—
Generating capacity retired since 2019—0 MW—
Planned generation (Aug 2026)—1,831 MW108% of today's fleet1st of 12 by size

Its power plants have 1,700 MW of capacity, 100% of it coal, the 6th largest fleet in Tennessee. Employers here counted 19,834 jobs in 2025, up 4.0% from 2019. Volunteer Electric Coop is the largest utility serving Roane County, one of 5 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.19¢/kWh in 2024. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 4.0% in 2019. 57,395 people live here, up 6.9% since 2020.

Power

Who powers Roane County

Operating fleet by fuel 1,700 MW
Coal 1,700 MW 100%
Planned generation by fuel 1,831 MW
Natural gas 1,831 MW 100%
Residential price per kWh, 2024
Volunteer Electric CoopCooperative, 24% commercial12.19¢
City of Lenoir - (TN)Municipal, 40% commercial11.95¢
City of Clinton - (TN)Municipal, 23% commercial12.99¢
City of Rockwood - (TN)Municipal, 31% commercial12.71¢
City of Harriman - (TN)Municipal, 25% commercial13.44¢
Median for Tennessee utilities: 12.22¢

Utilities with service territory in Roane County

UtilityOwnershipServiceResidential customers (systemwide)Residential price, 2024Commercial share of sales
Volunteer Electric CoopCooperativeBundled104,38712.19¢24%
City of Lenoir - (TN)MunicipalBundled62,45511.95¢40%
City of Clinton - (TN)MunicipalBundled26,23012.99¢23%
City of Rockwood - (TN)MunicipalBundled12,04212.71¢31%
City of Harriman - (TN)MunicipalBundled9,33513.44¢25%

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

TechnologyCapacityShare
Coal1,700 MW100%
Largest plantsOwnerTechnologyMWSince
KingstonTennessee Valley AuthorityCoal1,700 MW1954

Planned generation 18

PlantTechnologyMWStatusYearOwner
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combined Cycle455 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combined Cycle323 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority
KingstonNatural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine66 MWPlanned, approvals not started2027Tennessee Valley Authority

Scheduled to retire

PlantTechnologyMWYear
KingstonCoal1,100 MW2027
KingstonCoal600 MW2034
Jobs

The Roane County labor market

Industry (2025)JobsAverage payConcentration vs U.S.
All industries19,834$88,4761.00

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

Data centers and local rules in Roane County

2 data centers in Roane County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.

Local measures 1

MeasureStatusDate
Roane County data center moratoriumIn force2026-07
Next door

Roane County and its neighbors

Of the 8 counties that border Roane County, Rhea County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.

Roane CountyAnderson CountyCumberland CountyKnox CountyLoudon CountyMcMinn CountyMeigs CountyMorgan CountyRhea CountyRoaneAndersonCumberlandKnoxLoudonMcMinnMeigsMorganRhea
CountyPopulationJobs since 2019Operating MWPlanned MWData centersLocal measures
Roane County57,395▲ 4.0%1,700 MW1,831 MW21
Anderson County82,066▲ 17.0%136 MW——2
Cumberland County66,300▲ 8.6%—110 MW——
Knox County511,453▲ 9.2%5 MW—41
Loudon County63,764▲ 11.0%287 MW—11
McMinn County57,404▼ 9.4%5 MW———
Meigs County14,186▼ 11.5%————
Morgan County22,160▲ 3.9%———1
Rhea County34,844▲ 14.6%2,714 MW———
Keep going

More of Tennessee

All Tennessee countiesThe state power page and county mapOpen →Knox County511,453 peopleOpen →Anderson County82,066 peopleOpen →Cumberland County66,300 peopleOpen →Loudon County63,764 peopleOpen →McMinn County57,404 peopleOpen →
Questions

Roane County, answered from the record

Who provides electricity in Roane County, Tennessee?

5 utilities have service territory in Roane County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Volunteer Electric Coop, City of Lenoir - (TN), City of Clinton - (TN), City of Rockwood - (TN). The largest, Volunteer Electric Coop, charged residential customers 12.19¢/kWh on average in 2024.

What power plants are in Roane County?

1 operating plant with 1,700 MW of capacity. The largest is Kingston (1,700 MW, coal).

How much new power is planned in Roane County?

1,831 MW across 18 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Tennessee Valley Authority.

Are there data centers in Roane County?

Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Roane County.

Is Roane County adding jobs?

Employers counted 19,834 jobs in 2025 against 19,068 in 2019 (+4.0%, BLS QCEW).

Does Roane County have a data center moratorium?

The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Roane County, 1 in force.