Henrico County, Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Sandston
The data center boom is not abstract in Henrico County: it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 29 data centers in Henrico County, 4% of Virginia's total. Henrico County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Sandston, are unincorporated and governed by the county. Construction employs 12,217, up 36.5% since 2019. Electrical contractors employ 2,352, up 46.3% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $98,725 a year. 20 MW of new generation is planned here across 1 unit, led by Dominion Renewable Energy (solar).
Cities and towns in Henrico County
Henrico County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its communities, including Sandston, are unincorporated and governed by the county.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Sandston, Chamberlayne, Dumbarton, East Highland Park, Glen Allen, Highland Springs, Innsbrook, Lakeside, Laurel, Montrose, Short Pump, Tuckahoe, Wyndham.
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 Henrico County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 334,929 | 342,775 | ▲ 2.3% | 6th of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 192,419 | 193,232 | ▲ 0.4% | 73rd of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $55,712 | $73,260 | ▲ 31.5% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 8,948 | 12,217 | ▲ 36.5% | 17th of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,608 | 2,352 | ▲ 46.3% | — |
| Power line construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 212 | 325 | ▲ 53.3% | — |
| Electric utility jobs (2019 → 2025) | 531 | 536 | ▲ 0.9% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 70 | 371 | ▲ 430.0% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.8% | 3.6% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 20 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Planned generation (Aug 2026) | — | 20 MW | 5% of today's fleet | 21st of 29 by size |
20 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly solar. Unemployment was 3.6% in August 2026, against 2.8% in 2019. Its power plants have 398 MW of capacity, 92% of it natural gas. Virginia Electric & Power Co is the largest utility serving Henrico County. Its residential customers paid an average 14.09¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.39¢ median for Virginia utilities. Employers here counted 193,232 jobs in 2025, up 0.4% from 2019. 342,775 people live here, up 2.3% since 2020, 6th of 133 Virginia counties by population.
Who powers Henrico County
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +20 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Utilities with service territory in Henrico 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% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | 368 MW | 92% |
| Solar | 20 MW | 5% |
| Other technologies | 10 MW | 3% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darbytown | Virginia Electric & Power Co | Natural gas | 368 MW | 1990 |
| Briel Solar Farm | Briel Solar Farm, LLC | Solar | 20 MW | 2021 |
| Richmond Energy | Richmond Energy LLC | Other technologies | 6 MW | 2012 |
| Henrico | Industrial Power Generating Company LLC | Other technologies | 4 MW | 2010 |
Planned generation 1
| Plant | Technology | MW | Status | Year | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridleton Solar | Solar Photovoltaic | 20 MW | Approvals pending | 2028 | Dominion Renewable Energy |
The Henrico County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 193,232 | $73,260 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 12,217 | $86,253 | 1.19 |
| Electrical contractors | 2,352 | $98,725 | 1.69 |
| Power and communication line construction | 325 | $97,764 | 1.04 |
| Electric utilities | 536 | $127,577 | 1.02 |
| Data processing and hosting | 371 | $200,295 | 0.62 |
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 Henrico County
29 data centers in Henrico County are on the SAVRN Data Center Map.
Henrico County and its neighbors
Of the 7 counties that border Henrico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrico County | 342,775 | ▲ 0.4% | 398 MW | 20 MW | 29 | — |
| Charles City County | 6,623 | ▲ 24.1% | 309 MW | — | — | — |
| Chesterfield County | 397,148 | ▲ 8.4% | 504 MW | 1,163 MW | 6 | — |
| Goochland County | 29,187 | ▲ 7.7% | 5 MW | — | — | — |
| Hanover County | 116,423 | ▲ 5.7% | 1,343 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| New Kent County | 28,022 | ▲ 30.0% | 20 MW | 20 MW | — | — |
| Powhatan County | 32,591 | ▲ 17.6% | 120 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Richmond (city) | 237,257 | ▲ 5.7% | — | — | 2 | — |
More of Virginia
Henrico County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Henrico County, Virginia?
1 utility has service territory in Henrico County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Virginia Electric & Power Co. The largest, Virginia Electric & Power Co, charged residential customers 14.09¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Henrico County?
4 operating plants with 398 MW of capacity. The largest is Darbytown (368 MW, natural gas).
How much new power is planned in Henrico County?
20 MW across 1 units in the August 2026 EIA-860M inventory, 0 MW of it under construction or built. The largest owner is Dominion Renewable Energy.
Are there data centers in Henrico County?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 29 data centers in Henrico County.
Is Henrico County adding jobs?
Employers counted 193,232 jobs in 2025 against 192,419 in 2019 (+0.4%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 8,948 to 12,217.
Does Henrico County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Henrico County. Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.