Yoakum County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Denver City and Plains
New generation is lining up in Yoakum County. Yoakum County is home to Denver City and Plains. 507 MW of new generation is planned here across 2 units, led by 1000 Mile Solar, LLC (solar). 300 MW of it is already under construction or built. Employers here counted 3,194 jobs in 2025, down 12.7% from 2019. Its power plants have 1,016 MW of capacity, 100% of it natural gas. Unemployment was 4.0% in August 2026, against 3.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Yoakum County
Yoakum County is home to Denver City and Plains.
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 Yoakum County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 7,672 | 7,438 | ▼ 3.1% | 182nd of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,659 | 3,194 | ▼ 12.7% | 232nd of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $65,683 | $80,731 | ▲ 22.9% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.0% | 4.0% | ▲ 1.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 507 MW | 50% of today's fleet | 49th of 149 by size |
Southwestern Public Service Co is the largest utility serving Yoakum County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 13.35¢/kWh in 2024, above the 12.81¢ median for Texas utilities. 7,438 people live here, down 3.1% since 2020.
Who powers Yoakum County
Utilities with service territory in Yoakum County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Public Service Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 222,146 | 13.35¢ | 25% |
| Lyntegar Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 9,021 | 8.99¢ | 42% |
| Lea County Electric Coop, Inc - (NM) | Cooperative | Bundled | 1,989 | 9.82¢ | 70% |
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 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 1,016 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang Station | Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc | Natural gas | 521 MW | 1999 |
| Mustang Station Unit 4 | Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc | Natural gas | 472 MW | 2006 |
| Wasson CO2 Removal Plant | Occidental Permian Ltd | Natural gas | 23 MW | 1988 |
Planned generation 2
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 Mile Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 300 MW | Built, not yet operating | 2026 | 1000 Mile Solar, LLC |
| Mule Shoe Energy Storage | Batteries | 207 MW | Approvals received | 2028 | Mule Shoe Energy Storage LLC |
The Yoakum County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 3,194 | $80,731 | 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 Yoakum County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Yoakum County. Texas has 25 local measures on record statewide.
Yoakum County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Yoakum County, Lea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoakum County | 7,438 | ▼ 12.7% | 1,016 MW | 507 MW | — | — |
| Cochran County | 2,546 | ▼ 0.3% | 150 MW | 120 MW | — | — |
| Gaines County | 23,956 | ▲ 9.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Hockley County | 21,600 | ▼ 9.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Lea County NM | 74,749 | ▲ 3.1% | 1,844 MW | 721 MW | — | — |
| Terry County | 11,720 | ▼ 15.0% | — | — | — | — |
More of Texas
Yoakum County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Yoakum County, Texas?
3 utilities have service territory in Yoakum County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Southwestern Public Service Co, Lyntegar Electric Coop, Inc, Lea County Electric Coop, Inc - (NM). The largest, Southwestern Public Service Co, charged residential customers 13.35¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Yoakum County?
3 operating plants with 1,016 MW of capacity. The largest is Mustang Station (521 MW, natural gas).
How much new power is planned in Yoakum County?
507 MW across 2 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 300 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is 1000 Mile Solar, LLC.
Are there data centers in Yoakum County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Yoakum County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lea County.
Is Yoakum County adding jobs?
Employers counted 3,194 jobs in 2025 against 3,659 in 2019 (-12.7%, BLS QCEW).
Does Yoakum County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Yoakum County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.