Dickens County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Dickens County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Dickens County. Dickens County is home to Spur. 204 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by HE-Cottonwood Solar, LLC (solar). Employers here counted 530 jobs in 2025, up 16.5% from 2019. 300 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly battery storage.
Cities and towns in Dickens County
Dickens County is home to Spur.
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 Dickens County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 1,758 | 1,692 | ▼ 3.8% | 236th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 455 | 530 | ▲ 16.5% | 47th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $33,430 | $56,783 | ▲ 69.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.7% | 3.3% | ▼ 0.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 300 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 204 MW | 45% of today's fleet | 102nd of 149 by size |
Its power plants have 450 MW of capacity, 67% of it battery storage. AEP Texas North Company is the largest utility serving Dickens County, one of 3 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 3.7% in 2019. 1,692 people live here, down 3.8% since 2020.
Who powers Dickens County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +300 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Dickens County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas North Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 157,455 | — | — |
| South Plains Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 56,173 | 10.35¢ | 23% |
| Lighthouse Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 3,878 | 14.59¢ | 72% |
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 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Battery storage | 300 MW | 67% |
| Wind | 150 MW | 33% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickens | Engie North America | Battery storage | 200 MW | 2024 |
| McAdoo Wind Energy LLC | Invenergy Services LLC | Wind | 150 MW | 2008 |
| Burksol Energy Storage | Burksol, LLC | Battery storage | 100 MW | 2025 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donegal Solar Project | Solar Photovoltaic | 204 MW | Approvals received | 2028 | HE-Cottonwood Solar, LLC |
The Dickens County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 530 | $56,783 | 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 Dickens County
2 data centers in Dickens County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Dickens County and its neighbors
Of the 8 counties that border Dickens County, Stonewall 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickens County | 1,692 | ▲ 16.5% | 450 MW | 204 MW | 2 | — |
| Cottle County | 1,224 | ▲ 90.8% | — | — | — | — |
| Crosby County | 4,852 | ▼ 18.3% | 367 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Floyd County | 4,881 | ▼ 2.4% | 761 MW | — | — | — |
| Garza County | 4,510 | ▼ 27.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Kent County | 674 | ▲ 33.8% | 452 MW | 250 MW | — | — |
| King County | 192 | ▲ 89.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Motley County | 1,043 | ▼ 5.9% | 250 MW | — | — | — |
| Stonewall County | 1,186 | ▲ 50.5% | — | 795 MW | — | — |
More of Texas
Dickens County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Dickens County, Texas?
3 utilities have service territory in Dickens County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas North Company, South Plains Electric Coop Inc, Lighthouse Electric Coop, Inc.
What power plants are in Dickens County?
3 operating plants with 450 MW of capacity. The largest is Dickens (200 MW, battery storage).
How much new power is planned in Dickens County?
204 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is HE-Cottonwood Solar, LLC.
Are there data centers in Dickens County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 2 data centers in Dickens County.
Is Dickens County adding jobs?
Employers counted 530 jobs in 2025 against 455 in 2019 (+16.5%, BLS QCEW).
Does Dickens County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Dickens County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.