Washington County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Brenham
Washington County is not a build-out site today. It feels the boom through the grid it shares, the utilities that serve it and the work nearby. Washington County is home to Brenham. 60 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Gransolar Texas Seven LLC (solar). Next door, Lee County has 1,290 MW of planned generation. Employers here counted 16,712 jobs in 2025, up 10.2% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.2% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Washington County
Washington County is home to Brenham.
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 Washington County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 35,791 | 38,288 | ▲ 7.0% | 86th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 15,170 | 16,712 | ▲ 10.2% | 82nd of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $40,911 | $53,079 | ▲ 29.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 4.2% | ▲ 1.0pts | — |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 60 MW | no fleet today | 141st of 149 by size |
Entergy Texas Inc. is the largest utility serving Washington County, one of 4 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.66¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.81¢ median for Texas utilities. 38,288 people live here, up 7.0% since 2020.
Who powers Washington County
Utilities with service territory in Washington County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entergy Texas Inc. | Investor Owned | Bundled | 457,369 | 13.66¢ | 24% |
| Bluebonnet Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 113,890 | 11.42¢ | 42% |
| Fayette Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 14,150 | 12.54¢ | 18% |
| City of Brenham - (TX) | Municipal | Bundled | 6,059 | 10.58¢ | 29% |
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 Washington County in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lampe Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 60 MW | Approvals pending | 2027 | Gransolar Texas Seven LLC |
The Washington County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 16,712 | $53,079 | 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 Washington County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Washington County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide, and 1 neighboring county has one: Austin County.
Washington County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Washington County, Lee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 38,288 | ▲ 10.2% | — | 60 MW | — | — |
| Austin County | 33,625 | ▲ 27.0% | 210 MW | 800 MW | 1 | 1 |
| Brazos County | 249,088 | ▲ 17.3% | 290 MW | 5 MW | 3 | — |
| Burleson County | 20,549 | ▲ 13.0% | — | — | — | — |
| Fayette County | 25,459 | ▲ 1.0% | 2,172 MW | 200 MW | — | — |
| Grimes County | 34,252 | ▲ 13.9% | 1,301 MW | 210 MW | — | — |
| Lee County | 18,729 | ▲ 0.5% | — | 1,290 MW | — | — |
| Waller County | 69,858 | ▲ 40.7% | 480 MW | — | — | — |
More of Texas
Washington County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Washington County, Texas?
4 utilities have service territory in Washington County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Entergy Texas Inc., Bluebonnet Electric Coop, Inc, Fayette Electric Coop, Inc, City of Brenham - (TX). The largest, Entergy Texas Inc., charged residential customers 13.66¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Brenham, TX in?
Brenham is in Washington County, Texas. About 19,957 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
How much new power is planned in Washington County?
60 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Gransolar Texas Seven LLC.
Are there data centers in Washington County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Washington County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lee County.
Is Washington County adding jobs?
Employers counted 16,712 jobs in 2025 against 15,170 in 2019 (+10.2%, BLS QCEW).
Does Washington County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Washington County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.