Jackson County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Edna and Ganado
Jackson County is a generation frontier for Texas. Jackson County is home to Edna and Ganado. 508 MW of new generation is planned here across 3 units, led by New Hickory Solar LLC (battery storage). 206 MW of it is already under construction or built. Construction employs 843, down 7.7% since 2019, and construction is 3.0 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 5,356 jobs in 2025, down 11.5% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.8% in August 2026, against 3.4% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Jackson County
Jackson County is home to Edna and Ganado.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Lolita, Vanderbilt.
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 Jackson County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 14,997 | 15,393 | ▲ 2.6% | 138th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 6,053 | 5,356 | ▼ 11.5% | 227th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $47,038 | $58,181 | ▲ 23.7% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 913 | 843 | ▼ 7.7% | 136th of 155 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.4% | 4.8% | ▲ 1.4pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 221 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 508 MW | 230% of today's fleet | 48th of 149 by size |
221 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Its power plants have 221 MW of capacity, 68% of it solar. AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving Jackson County, one of 5 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. 15,393 people live here, up 2.6% since 2020.
Who powers Jackson County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +221 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Jackson 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% |
| Jackson Electric Coop, Inc - (TX) | Cooperative | Bundled | 15,620 | 13.42¢ | 5% |
| Wharton County Elec Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 5,548 | 13.37¢ | 24% |
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
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 150 MW | 68% |
| Battery storage | 70 MW | 32% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ganado Solar | Enel Green Power NA, Inc. | Battery storage | 221 MW | 2023 |
Planned generation 3
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hickory Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 206 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | New Hickory Solar LLC |
| Dios BESS, LLC | Batteries | 202 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2027 | Samsung C&T Renewables, LLC |
| Third Coast BESS, LLC | Batteries | 100 MW | Approvals received | 2027 | Cypress Creek Renewables |
The Jackson County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 5,356 | $58,181 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 843 | $68,256 | 2.97 |
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 Jackson County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jackson County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Jackson County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Jackson County, Wharton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 15,393 | ▼ 11.5% | 221 MW | 508 MW | — | — |
| Calhoun County | 19,599 | ▲ 0.6% | 1,785 MW | — | — | — |
| Colorado County | 21,439 | ▲ 7.1% | 51 MW | 142 MW | — | — |
| Lavaca County | 20,651 | ▲ 7.5% | — | — | — | — |
| Matagorda County | 36,463 | ▲ 6.6% | 3,134 MW | 1,125 MW | — | — |
| Victoria County | 92,656 | ▼ 5.2% | 1,168 MW | 232 MW | 1 | — |
| Wharton County | 42,060 | ▼ 0.8% | 3,912 MW | 2,229 MW | — | — |
More of Texas
Jackson County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jackson County, Texas?
5 utilities have service territory in Jackson County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, Guadalupe Valley Elec Coop Inc, Victoria Electric Coop, Inc, Jackson Electric Coop, Inc - (TX).
What power plants are in Jackson County?
1 operating plant with 221 MW of capacity. The largest is Ganado Solar (221 MW, battery storage).
How much new power is planned in Jackson County?
508 MW across 3 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 206 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is New Hickory Solar LLC.
Are there data centers in Jackson County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jackson County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Wharton County.
Is Jackson County adding jobs?
Employers counted 5,356 jobs in 2025 against 6,053 in 2019 (-11.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 913 to 843.
Does Jackson County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jackson County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.