Goliad County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Goliad
Goliad County is a generation frontier for Texas. Construction employs 202, up 53.0% since 2019, and construction is 2.7 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Goliad County is home to Goliad. 432 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by Ray Ranch Solar LLC (solar). 255 MW of it is already under construction or built. Unemployment was 5.5% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019. 300 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Goliad County
Goliad County is home to Goliad.
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 Goliad County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,021 | 7,208 | ▲ 2.7% | 184th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,310 | 1,392 | ▲ 6.3% | 114th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,771 | $60,002 | ▲ 40.3% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 132 | 202 | ▲ 53.0% | 30th of 155 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 5.5% | ▲ 1.9pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 300 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 432 MW | 47% of today's fleet | 64th of 149 by size |
Its power plants have 922 MW of capacity, 67% of it coal. Employers here counted 1,392 jobs in 2025, up 6.3% from 2019. AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving Goliad County, one of 5 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. 7,208 people live here, up 2.7% since 2020.
Who powers Goliad County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +300 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Goliad County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 784,148 | — | — |
| Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 92,189 | 12.49¢ | 13% |
| Victoria Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 21,500 | 12.13¢ | 8% |
| Karnes Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 13,222 | 9.90¢ | 43% |
| San Patricio Electric Coop Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 10,007 | 13.99¢ | 17% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 622 MW | 67% |
| Solar | 300 MW | 33% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleto Creek | Coleto Creek Power LP | Coal | 622 MW | 1980 |
| Peregrine Solar | RWE Clean Energy | Solar | 300 MW | 2025 |
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Ranch Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 255 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | Ray Ranch Solar LLC |
| Myers Solar and Storage | Solar Photovoltaic | 101 MW | Approvals pending | 2028 | Belltown Power Texas 2, LLC |
| Myers Solar and Storage | Batteries | 76 MW | Approvals pending | 2028 | Belltown Power Texas 2, LLC |
The Goliad County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,392 | $60,002 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 202 | $63,019 | 2.74 |
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 Goliad County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Goliad County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Goliad County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Goliad County, Victoria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goliad County | 7,208 | ▲ 6.3% | 922 MW | 432 MW | — | — |
| Bee County | 32,515 | ▼ 4.7% | 818 MW | 351 MW | — | — |
| DeWitt County | 20,309 | ▼ 11.6% | — | — | — | — |
| Karnes County | 15,018 | ▼ 8.2% | 30 MW | — | — | — |
| Refugio County | 6,657 | ▼ 8.0% | 220 MW | 394 MW | — | — |
| Victoria County | 92,656 | ▼ 5.2% | 1,168 MW | 232 MW | 1 | — |
More of Texas
Goliad County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Goliad County, Texas?
5 utilities have service territory in Goliad County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop Inc, Victoria Electric Coop, Inc, Karnes Electric Coop Inc.
What power plants are in Goliad County?
2 operating plants with 922 MW of capacity. The largest is Coleto Creek (622 MW, coal).
How much new power is planned in Goliad County?
432 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 255 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Ray Ranch Solar LLC.
Are there data centers in Goliad County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Goliad County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Refugio County.
Is Goliad County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,392 jobs in 2025 against 1,310 in 2019 (+6.3%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 132 to 202.
Does Goliad County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Goliad County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.