Jones County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Abilene, Stamford and Anson
Jones County is a generation frontier for Texas. 1,418 MW of new generation is planned here across 6 units, led by Lightsource Renewable Energy Asset Management, LLC (solar). 1,418 MW of it is already under construction or built. Jones County is home to part of Abilene (5,770 of its 131,588 residents), Stamford, Anson and Hamlin. Construction employs 276, up 31.4% since 2019, and construction is 1.6 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Employers here counted 3,269 jobs in 2025, up 8.2% from 2019. 201 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar.
Cities and towns in Jones County
Jones County is home to part of Abilene (5,770 of its 131,588 residents), Stamford, Anson and Hamlin.
- Abilene also extends into Taylor County.
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 Jones County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 19,667 | 20,861 | ▲ 6.1% | 117th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,020 | 3,269 | ▲ 8.2% | 98th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $39,352 | $55,143 | ▲ 40.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 210 | 276 | ▲ 31.4% | 57th of 155 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.6% | 3.8% | ▲ 0.2pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 201 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 1,418 MW | 705% of today's fleet | 11th of 149 by size |
Its power plants have 201 MW of capacity, 99% of it solar. AEP Texas North Company is the largest utility serving Jones County, one of 3 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. 20,861 people live here, up 6.1% since 2020. Unemployment was 3.8% in August 2026, against 3.6% in 2019.
Who powers Jones County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +201 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Jones County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas North Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 157,455 | — | — |
| Taylor Electric Coop Inc - (TX) | Cooperative | Bundled | 18,722 | 15.37¢ | 14% |
| Big Country Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 9,449 | 13.72¢ | 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 2
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 200 MW | 99% |
| Natural gas | 1 MW | 1% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANSON Solar Center, LLC | Engie North America | Solar | 200 MW | 2021 |
| WAL536 | Walmart Stores Texas, LLC | Natural gas | 1 MW | 2021 |
Planned generation 6
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funston Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 350 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Funston Solar, LLC |
| Tiger Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 250 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Vaca Del Sol, LLC |
| Anson 2 Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 218 MW | Under construction (>50%) | 2026 | Anson Solar Center 2, LLC |
| Jones City 1 Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 215 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | Lightsource Renewable Energy Asset Management, LLC |
| Jones City 2 Solar | Batteries | 200 MW | Under construction (≤50%) | 2027 | Lightsource Renewable Energy Asset Management, LLC |
| Jones City 2 Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 185 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | Lightsource Renewable Energy Asset Management, LLC |
The Jones County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,269 | $55,143 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 276 | $91,190 | 1.59 |
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 Jones County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Jones County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Jones County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Jones County, Taylor 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | 20,861 | ▲ 8.2% | 201 MW | 1,418 MW | — | — |
| Callahan County | 14,491 | ▲ 18.6% | 676 MW | 415 MW | — | — |
| Fisher County | 3,692 | ▼ 0.5% | 509 MW | 330 MW | — | — |
| Haskell County | 5,499 | ▲ 3.4% | 1,774 MW | 2,304 MW | 1 | — |
| Nolan County | 14,117 | ▼ 2.2% | 2,772 MW | 831 MW | 1 | — |
| Shackelford County | 3,197 | ▼ 9.0% | 566 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Stonewall County | 1,186 | ▲ 50.5% | — | 795 MW | — | — |
| Taylor County | 150,077 | ▲ 6.8% | 991 MW | 299 MW | 45 | — |
More of Texas
Jones County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Jones County, Texas?
3 utilities have service territory in Jones County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas North Company, Taylor Electric Coop Inc - (TX), Big Country Electric Coop, Inc.
What power plants are in Jones County?
2 operating plants with 201 MW of capacity. The largest is ANSON Solar Center, LLC (200 MW, solar).
How much new power is planned in Jones County?
1,418 MW across 6 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 1,418 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Lightsource Renewable Energy Asset Management, LLC.
Are there data centers in Jones County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Jones County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Taylor County.
Is Jones County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,269 jobs in 2025 against 3,020 in 2019 (+8.2%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 210 to 276.
Does Jones County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Jones County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.