Kleberg County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kingsville
No data center or power plant project is on record in Kleberg County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Kleberg County is home to Kingsville. 220 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by Nexus Renewable Power, LLC (solar). Next door, Nueces County has 4 data centers and 1,229 MW of planned generation. Unemployment was 5.0% in August 2026, against 4.3% in 2019. Employers here counted 12,194 jobs in 2025, up 1.6% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Kleberg County
Kleberg County is home to Kingsville.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Ricardo, Riviera.
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 Kleberg County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 30,986 | 30,315 | ▼ 2.2% | 96th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 11,998 | 12,194 | ▲ 1.6% | 145th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,842 | $54,478 | ▲ 33.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.3% | 5.0% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 220 MW | no fleet today | 99th of 149 by size |
AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving Kleberg County, one of 2 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. 30,315 people live here, down 2.2% since 2020.
Who powers Kleberg County
Utilities with service territory in Kleberg County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 784,148 | — | — |
| Nueces Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | Bundled | 46,409 | 10.68¢ | 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.
No operating power plant is located in Kleberg County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noria Hondo Solar (Hybrid) | Solar Photovoltaic | 145 MW | Approvals pending | 2027 | Nexus Renewable Power, LLC |
| Noria Hondo Solar (Hybrid) | Batteries | 75 MW | Approvals pending | 2027 | Nexus Renewable Power, LLC |
The Kleberg County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 12,194 | $54,478 | 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 Kleberg County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Kleberg County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Kleberg County and its neighbors
Of the 4 counties that border Kleberg County, Nueces 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kleberg County | 30,315 | ▲ 1.6% | — | 220 MW | — | — |
| Brooks County | 6,579 | ▼ 21.9% | 30 MW | — | — | — |
| Jim Wells County | 38,804 | ▼ 11.9% | 142 MW | — | — | — |
| Kenedy County | 319 | ▼ 55.1% | 1,075 MW | — | — | — |
| Nueces County | 352,992 | ▲ 0.9% | 3,408 MW | 1,229 MW | 4 | — |
More of Texas
Kleberg County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Kleberg County, Texas?
2 utilities have service territory in Kleberg County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, Nueces Electric Cooperative.
What county is Kingsville, TX in?
Kingsville is in Kleberg County, Texas. About 24,687 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
How much new power is planned in Kleberg County?
220 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Nexus Renewable Power, LLC.
Are there data centers in Kleberg County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Kleberg County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Nueces County.
Is Kleberg County adding jobs?
Employers counted 12,194 jobs in 2025 against 11,998 in 2019 (+1.6%, BLS QCEW).
Does Kleberg County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Kleberg County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.