Zapata County, Texas: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Falcon Lake Estates and Falcon Mesa
Zapata County is one of the places the data center build-out is physically happening. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Zapata County. Zapata County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Falcon Lake Estates, Falcon Mesa, Las Palmas, are unincorporated and governed by the county. 200 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Bravo ESS LLC (battery storage). Employers here counted 2,954 jobs in 2025, down 14.6% from 2019. Unemployment was 6.6% in August 2026, against 5.0% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Zapata County
Zapata County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Falcon Lake Estates, Falcon Mesa, Las Palmas, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Falcon Lake Estates, Falcon Mesa, Las Palmas, Lopeño, Los Lobos, Medina, Morales-Sanchez, New Falcon, Ramireno, San Ygnacio, Siesta Shores, Zapata.
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 Zapata County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 13,875 | 13,753 | ▼ 0.9% | 146th of 254 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,461 | 2,954 | ▼ 14.6% | 236th of 254 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $52,913 | $41,232 | ▼ 22.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 141 | 94 | ▼ 33.3% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 5.0% | 6.6% | ▲ 1.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 441 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 200 MW | 45% of today's fleet | 107th of 149 by size |
441 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly wind. Its power plants have 441 MW of capacity, 93% of it wind. AEP Texas Central Company is the largest utility serving Zapata County, one of 2 with territory here. It delivers power that customers buy from competing retail providers. 13,753 people live here, down 0.9% since 2020.
Who powers Zapata County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +441 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Zapata County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Texas Central Company | — | Delivery only (retail choice) | 784,148 | — | — |
| Medina Electric Coop, Inc | Cooperative | Bundled | 30,205 | 12.10¢ | 20% |
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 4
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 411 MW | 93% |
| Battery storage | 30 MW | 7% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reloj del Sol Wind Farm | Reloj del Sol Wind Farm LLC | Wind | 209 MW | 2021 |
| Las Lomas Wind Project | Engie North America | Wind | 202 MW | 2020 |
| Zapata | Engie North America | Battery storage | 20 MW | 2022 |
| Lopeno | Engie North America | Battery storage | 10 MW | 2022 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bravo ESS | Batteries | 200 MW | Planned, approvals not started | 2029 | Bravo ESS LLC |
The Zapata County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 2,954 | $41,232 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 94 | $52,093 | 0.60 |
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 Zapata County
4 data centers in Zapata County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Zapata County and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Zapata County, Webb 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapata County | 13,753 | ▼ 14.6% | 441 MW | 200 MW | 4 | — |
| Jim Hogg County | 4,555 | ▼ 0.4% | 78 MW | — | — | — |
| Starr County | 66,319 | ▼ 1.4% | 1,166 MW | 880 MW | — | — |
| Webb County | 281,224 | ▲ 4.6% | 2,613 MW | 776 MW | 4 | — |
More of Texas
Zapata County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Zapata County, Texas?
2 utilities have service territory in Zapata County in the EIA-861 2024 report: AEP Texas Central Company, Medina Electric Coop, Inc.
What power plants are in Zapata County?
4 operating plants with 441 MW of capacity. The largest is Reloj del Sol Wind Farm (209 MW, wind).
How much new power is planned in Zapata County?
200 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Bravo ESS LLC.
Are there data centers in Zapata County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Zapata County.
Is Zapata County adding jobs?
Employers counted 2,954 jobs in 2025 against 3,461 in 2019 (-14.6%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 141 to 94.
Does Zapata County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Zapata County. Texas has 25 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.