Fluvanna County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Columbia and Lake Monticello
Fluvanna County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Construction employs 690, up 40.0% since 2019, and construction is 2.8 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Fluvanna County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Columbia, Lake Monticello, Palmyra, are unincorporated and governed by the county. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (0 in force); the latest is “Expired local moratorium on data centers through January 31, 2026”. Electrical contractors employ 94, up 42.4% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $71,121 a year. 254 MW has retired here since 2019, including Bremo Bluff (natural gas, 254 MW, 2019).
Cities and towns in Fluvanna County
Fluvanna County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Columbia, Lake Monticello, Palmyra, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Columbia, Lake Monticello, Palmyra.
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 Fluvanna County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 27,289 | 28,975 | ▲ 6.2% | 63rd of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 4,277 | 4,726 | ▲ 10.5% | 19th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $42,076 | $57,878 | ▲ 37.6% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 493 | 690 | ▲ 40.0% | 15th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 66 | 94 | ▲ 42.4% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.3% | 3.1% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 5 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 254 MW | — |
Employers here counted 4,726 jobs in 2025, up 10.5% from 2019. Its power plants have 1,021 MW of capacity, 99% of it natural gas, the 10th largest fleet in Virginia. 5 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 3.1% in August 2026, against 2.3% in 2019. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving Fluvanna County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.09¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. 28,975 people live here, up 6.2% since 2020.
Who powers Fluvanna County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: −249 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Fluvanna County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Electric & Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 2,383,548 | 14.09¢ | 63% |
| Appalachian Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 465,283 | 17.02¢ | 26% |
| Central Virginia Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 34,893 | 16.14¢ | 16% |
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 | 1,011 MW | 99% |
| Solar | 10 MW | 1% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenaska Virginia Generating Station | Tenaska Virginia Partners LP | Natural gas | 1,011 MW | 2004 |
| Cunningham Solar LLC | Arevon Energy, Inc. | Solar | 5 MW | 2023 |
| Palmer Solar Center | Arevon Energy, Inc. | Solar | 5 MW | 2017 |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremo Bluff | Natural gas | 254 MW | 2019 |
The Fluvanna County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 4,726 | $57,878 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 690 | $73,483 | 2.76 |
| Electrical contractors | 94 | $71,121 | 2.76 |
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 Fluvanna County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expired local moratorium on data centers through January 31, 2026 | Failed / vetoed | 2025-09 |
Fluvanna County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Fluvanna County, Louisa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluvanna County | 28,975 | ▲ 10.5% | 1,021 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Albemarle County | 118,356 | ▲ 12.5% | 13 MW | — | — | — |
| Buckingham County | 17,137 | ▼ 6.4% | 599 MW | 224 MW | 1 | — |
| Cumberland County | 10,352 | ▲ 14.9% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Goochland County | 29,187 | ▲ 7.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Louisa County | 42,924 | ▲ 7.0% | 2,945 MW | 193 MW | 2 | — |
More of Virginia
Fluvanna County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Fluvanna County, Virginia?
3 utilities have service territory in Fluvanna County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Virginia Electric & Power Co, Appalachian Power Co, Central Virginia Electric Coop. The largest, Virginia Electric & Power Co, charged residential customers 14.09¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Fluvanna County?
3 operating plants with 1,021 MW of capacity. The largest is Tenaska Virginia Generating Station (1,011 MW, natural gas).
Are there data centers in Fluvanna County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Fluvanna County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Louisa County.
Is Fluvanna County adding jobs?
Employers counted 4,726 jobs in 2025 against 4,277 in 2019 (+10.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 493 to 690.
Does Fluvanna County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Fluvanna County, 0 in force.