Goochland County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Goochland
No data center or power plant project is on record in Goochland County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Goochland County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Goochland, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Construction employs 1,229, up 22.9% since 2019. Next door, Henrico County has 29 data centers. 29,187 people live here, up 17.4% since 2020. Employers here counted 18,926 jobs in 2025, up 7.7% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Goochland County
Goochland County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Goochland, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Goochland.
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 Goochland County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 24,866 | 29,187 | ▲ 17.4% | 62nd of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 17,570 | 18,926 | ▲ 7.7% | 27th of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $99,851 | $128,787 | ▲ 29.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,000 | 1,229 | ▲ 22.9% | 25th of 83 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 3.3% | ▲ 0.6pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 11 MW | — |
11 MW has retired here since 2019, including Rockville 1 & 2 (petroleum, 11 MW, 2023). Its power plants have 5 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Unemployment was 3.3% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving Goochland 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.
Who powers Goochland County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: −11 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Goochland 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% |
| Rappahannock Electric Coop | Cooperative | Bundled | 169,489 | 14.89¢ | 11% |
| 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 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 5 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Solar Center | Arevon Energy, Inc. | Solar | 5 MW | 2017 |
Retired since 2019
| Plant | Technology | MW | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockville 1 & 2 | Petroleum | 11 MW | 2023 |
The Goochland County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 18,926 | $128,787 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,229 | $92,265 | 1.23 |
| Data processing and hosting | 6 | $149,194 | 0.10 |
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 Goochland County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Goochland County. Virginia has 13 local measures on record statewide, and 2 neighboring counties have one: Fluvanna County, Hanover County.
Goochland County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Goochland County, Chesterfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goochland County | 29,187 | ▲ 7.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Chesterfield County | 397,148 | ▲ 8.4% | 504 MW | 1,163 MW | 6 | — |
| Cumberland County | 10,352 | ▲ 14.9% | — | — | 1 | — |
| Fluvanna County | 28,975 | ▲ 10.5% | 1,021 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Hanover County | 116,423 | ▲ 5.7% | 1,343 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Henrico County | 342,775 | ▲ 0.4% | 398 MW | 20 MW | 29 | — |
| Louisa County | 42,924 | ▲ 7.0% | 2,945 MW | 193 MW | 2 | — |
| Powhatan County | 32,591 | ▲ 17.6% | 120 MW | — | 1 | — |
More of Virginia
Goochland County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Goochland County, Virginia?
3 utilities have service territory in Goochland County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Virginia Electric & Power Co, Rappahannock Electric Coop, 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 Goochland County?
1 operating plant with 5 MW of capacity. The largest is Martin Solar Center (5 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Goochland County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Goochland County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Henrico County.
Is Goochland County adding jobs?
Employers counted 18,926 jobs in 2025 against 17,570 in 2019 (+7.7%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,000 to 1,229.
Does Goochland County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Goochland County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.